caterpillar

caterpillar

the wormlike larva of butterflies and moths, having numerous pairs of legs and powerful biting jaws. It may be brightly coloured, hairy, or spiny

Collins Discovery Encyclopedia, 1st edition © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

caterpillar

[′kad·ər‚pil·ər]

(invertebrate zoology)

The wormlike larval stage of a butterfly or moth.

The larva of certain insects, such as scorpion flies and sawflies.

(mechanical engineering)

A vehicle, such as a tractor or army tank, which runs on two endless belts, one on each side, consisting of flat treads and kept in motion by toothed driving wheels.

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific & Technical Terms, 6E, Copyright © 2003 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

crawler tractor

crawler tractor

An engine-driven vehicle that travels on segmented roller-chain tracks designed to reduce ground pressure and increase traction in loose footing; powesed by a gasoline or diesel engine.

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Architecture and Construction. Copyright © 2003 by McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Caterpillar

peevishly disputes with Alice. [Br. Lit.: Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland]

See: Argumentativeness

Allusions—Cultural, Literary, Biblical, and Historical: A Thematic Dictionary. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

Caterpillar

(dreams)

This bug may represent a stage in your own personal growth and development. The butterfly is a symbol of transformation; it represents a level of individual achievement. The caterpillar, on the other hand, may indicate that you are on your way but have not reached your goal. You may be in earlier stages of accomplishing a real-life goal, a relationship goal, or even a spiritual goal. The caterpillar may represent a specific area of your life or may be symbolic of the larger you.

Bedside Dream Dictionary by Silvana Amar Copyright © 2007 by Skyhorse Publishing, Inc.

The following article is from The Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1979). It might be outdated or ideologically biased.

Caterpillar

 

the larval form of the butterfly.

The caterpillar feeds intensively, storing nutritive material for its subsequent development. After numerous moltings accompanying its growth, the caterpiller is transformed into a chrysalis. Caterpillars are principally phytophagous. More rarely, they eat wool, wax, and horny matter; there are predators and parasites as well. The body is vermiform and the mouth parts are adapted to nibbling. In addition to the three pairs of thoracic legs there are as many as eight pairs of “false” legs. Tubular spinning, or silk-secreting, glands, which open through a canal on the labium, are characteristic of the caterpillar. Upon contact with the air, these glandular secretions form a silk thread that is used in the construction of a cocoon, cementing leaves in the form of a little house, or in the preparation of a protective web. Some caterpillars live in the open and others live concealed. Some live in communities and build special nests, entwining the branches and leaves of trees with web. Processionary moths effect mass migrations in their search for food. Caterpillars that live in the open usually have a shape and color that harmonizes with their background (cryptic), some have bright coloration that demonstrates that they are inedible, and some strike a threatening pose in moments of danger. Pseudocaterpillars (for example, the sawflies) are distinguished from true caterpillars, having false legs on nine to 11 segments. More than 1,000 species of butterflies have been recorded in the USSR; their caterpillars damage field, orchard, and forest plants. The cocoons of the Chinese silkworm, the lappet moth, and several other silkworms yield valuable textile raw material; their breeding is an important branch of agriculture.

The Great Soviet Encyclopedia, 3rd Edition (1970-1979). © 2010 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.