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Index of Subjects Thank you for finding that Rick. That well explains how the soft feathery waving I watched was possible- something that I had not observed before in a caterpillar. Nancy On Sun, Aug 18, 2013 at 6:21 AM, Rick Whitman <dendroica.caerulescens@gmail.com> wrote: > From wikipedia, from which all good things come: > "The larvae are brightly coloured, with tufts of hair-like setae." > > "Setae in entomology are often called hairs or chaetae. They are unicellular > and formed by the outgrowth of a single epidermal cell (trichogen). They are > generally hollow and project through a secondary or accessory (tormogen) > cell as it develops. The setal membrane is not cuticularized and movement is > possible. This serves to protect the body." > > > On Sat, Aug 17, 2013 at 7:30 PM, Rick Whitman > <dendroica.caerulescens@gmail.com> wrote: >> >> I feel that you are under-estimating the power of natural selection i.e. >> if it benefits the organism, in terms of survival, it just might happen. I'm >> confident they are nothing more than highly evolved "hairs", that can be >> moved in a defensive manner. >> Best, Rick. >> >> >> On Sat, Aug 17, 2013 at 6:41 PM, nancy dowd <nancypdowd@gmail.com> wrote: >>> >>> A week ago I took a picture of this fast-moving and impressive, albeit >>> common, White-Marked Tussock Moth Caterpillar (Orgyia leucostigma). >>> Pls correct the ID if wrong: >>> http://www.flickr.com/photos/92981528@N08/9501075283/ >>> >>> Then it reared its head up at me and waved its front tufts in the air. >>> Closeup of front end here: >>> http://www.flickr.com/photos/92981528@N08/9503879386/ >>> Details are in photo captions. >>> >>> I thought caterpillar tufts and hairs were passive structures, moving >>> only as the body moves. But they must have muscle control to wave >>> independently of one another like that. Are they a modified antennae >>> or leg or? Can't find anything out searching the internet or in the >>> books I have so I will try here. >>> >>> Nancy >> >> >> >> >> -- >> Rick Whitman > > > > > -- > Rick Whitman
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