Stick caterpillars have been found by this reader, who has graciously presented us with excellent pictures and a video of these creatures. This article will provide a basic overview of these wonderful insects.

“I was looking at the article about stick caterpillars and people wanted to know the actual size,” begins our reader in her submission. We do not know exactly which article she is referring to, but we appreciate her wanting to send pictures for reference. Likewise, she does not ask anything in her submission, but simply wanted to present us with this information.

The term ‘stick caterpillar’ actually refers to an entire family of moth caterpillar species that all resemble sticks. The family is called Geometridae and consists of more than 300 species. We are not entirely sure what species our reader found: given that a lot of the species look identical (since they all look like sticks). Generally, stick caterpillars prefer a moist climate, and tend to live in habitats such as woodlands and bogs. They can be found across Europe and Asia.

As our reader has shown us, these caterpillars tend to be the length of a match, which are usually between 1.4 to 1.9-inches (3.6 to 4.8 centimeters). Of course, this length can vary between various species, some growing longer than this.

In the video below, one can see how the stick caterpillar moves. It uses its two sets of prolegs to curl up its body and subsequently stretch its way across a surface, which is why these caterpillars are often referred to as ‘loopers’.

There are no records of stick caterpillars being harmful to humans or animals. They tend to stick (pun not intended) to their woodland habitats, resting on the branches of trees where they also feed. If found in a spot they are not supposed to be (inside a home, for example), we suggest gently scooping them up on a dustpan and moving them outside. If possible, taking them to a densely-populated forest is ideal.

To conclude, we want to thank our reader again for sending these amazing pictures, and for providing a size comparison as well. We hope this article proves interesting to anyone wanting to learn a little bit about stick caterpillars. We wish our reader the best!

Summary

Article Name

A Brief Overview of Stick Caterpillars

Description

Stick caterpillars have been found by this reader, who has graciously presented us with excellent pictures and a video of these creatures. This article will provide a basic overview of these wonderful insects.

Author

Worm Researcher Anton