00:00 Nature is abundant and beautiful. Some of it we've explored, but there are many life processes
00:05 and habits in the wild we just never get to see. For example, the transformation of caterpillars
00:10 into vibrant, colorful butterflies and moths. What caterpillars all have in common is the
00:16 incredible metamorphosis they undergo on their journey from egg to butterfly or moth.
00:20 We're familiar with the process theoretically, and you may think caterpillars are hardly anything
00:26 to look at, but you'll be amazed to see some of the creatures we've picked out for this video.
00:31 Whether you love identifying caterpillars in the wild or just want to determine friend from
00:35 foe in your garden, here's a before and after look at some of nature's most beautiful animals.
00:40 Welcome back to the Forever Green channel.
00:43 Today, we're going to take a look at some amazing transformations of caterpillars into moths and
00:50 butterflies. And the number one transformation is going to blow your mind. Prepare to be amazed.
00:58 Without further ado, let's get into it.
01:00 Number 10. The Monarch Butterfly Caterpillar
01:07 You've definitely heard of the monarch butterfly. They're very popular because of their distinct
01:13 wing pattern. In the spring, female monarch butterflies begin laying their eggs on milkweed
01:18 plants. Once hatched, the strikingly striped orange, black, and white caterpillars emerge
01:23 and devour their nutrient-rich eggshell, and then go on to gorge themselves silly on milkweed leaves,
01:29 bulking up to 3,000 times their size in just two weeks. The leaves contain a toxin that are not
01:35 harmful to them, but are poisonous to predator birds. After the buffet, they lounge, as we do,
01:42 on a leaf or a stem. They transform into a chrysalis, and a few days later,
01:50 emerge as the familiar orange, black, and white butterflies we know so well.
02:09 Number 9. Spicebush Swallowtail Butterfly
02:12 No, your eyes aren't deceiving you. This little guy does look like a cartoon sketch in children's
02:20 books. The Spicebush Swallowtail Caterpillars are found throughout the east of America,
02:27 and hide in folded leaves during the day and venture out in the evenings to feed.
02:32 Their diet includes red bay, sassafras, and spicebush. They have all the natural
02:37 predators all caterpillars do, which are typically larger insects and birds.
02:42 The eyes you see here are false, but the level of detail is remarkable. The black pupils in the
02:47 center, with the white highlights to mimic light reflections. Amazing. If the false eyes aren't
02:53 enough to ward off predators, these caterpillars break out their bright yellow horn-like organs,
02:58 which are behind their head and release a chemical repellent. They morph into big,
03:03 beautiful black-bodied butterflies with patches of blue and rows of light spots along their wing edges.
03:08 Number 8. Hubbard's Small Silk Moth
03:21 Humans may be intrigued by bright colors, but the same is not true in the animal kingdom.
03:28 Their bright colors actually come off as threatening, and their dynamic patterns
03:32 fool their predators. Since they just can't tell where their eyes and mouth are located,
03:36 that is definitely true for the Hubbard's Silk Moth.
03:39 These guys are commonly found in South America and Mexico, and are also called the Watermelon Moth,
03:46 and you can see why. Their shades of pink and green definitely resemble watermelon slices.
03:53 They may look threatening, but they are actually not dangerous or poisonous.
03:57 The appearance is just to ward off predators. The caterpillars feed on catclaw acacia,
04:02 mesquite, and other legumes, and they're every bit as pretty as the adult moth. The adult moth
04:07 has gray and red hind wings and dark gray forewings with a single white spot on them.
04:13 These are false eyes, again, to warn predators. How clever is that? Let's hope no cats are
04:19 watching this video right now. Number 7. Flannel Moth
04:26 We know you're tempted to touch this fluffy little caterpillar. It's important, however,
04:32 that you don't. Flannel Moth Caterpillars, or as they are also known, Puss Moth Caterpillars,
04:37 have very fine hair with venomous spines. In fact, it is the most poisonous caterpillar
04:43 species in the United States. Touch them, or even just lightly brush against them,
04:48 and you'll find rashes and bumps on your skin. It's best to leave them alone and admire how
04:52 pretty they are from afar. The moths they become are unique too, and much less dangerous. They are
04:58 covered in thick hair, like soft flannel, and have large swaths of brown color on each forewing,
05:04 with white hair covering them. The thorax and legs have orange hair, and their antennae with
05:08 black tips are comb-like. It's less of a looker than the caterpillar, we'll admit that. And if
05:14 you think that's pretty special, you'll definitely want to stick around for number one.
05:18 Number 6. Saddleback Caterpillar Moth
05:31 It's easy to see how this one got its name. These crazy looking caterpillars with neon green saddles
05:39 are found throughout Mexico and America. You can probably tell by the spikes on this thing
05:44 that it's pretty dangerous, and unlike the flannel caterpillar, they don't hide it.
05:48 Beware their four lobes of poisonous spines, two in front and two in the back, as well as the
05:54 several smaller stinging spines along their sides. Their hollow quills are connected to poison glands
05:59 beneath its skin, and the pain and swelling from contact with them is equal, and sometimes greater
06:04 than a bee sting. But after these caterpillars mature, they become quite harmless. The adults
06:10 are glossy dark brown with black shading, and you will find dense scales present on the body and
06:15 wings, giving it a furry appearance. You could probably pick this one up, if you want to somewhat
06:20 understand what holding a flannel moth caterpillar would feel like. Number 5. Owl Butterfly Caterpillar
06:29 These slug-like creatures start small, but can grow up to six inches before they transform
06:36 into equally impressive five-inch butterflies. You might find it hard to spot them, they usually
06:41 hide in banana leaves or other host plants. They have horns on their head, forked tails,
06:46 and have black spikes along their spines, which might look dangerous, but actually aren't.
06:51 As adults, they are perfectly fashioned to frighten off predatory birds and lizards,
06:56 with the fake owl eyes on their wings, complete with a pupil and iris. Since they are not long
07:00 range flyers, and therefore easy prey, their wing patterns are a huge advantage. They are
07:06 more visible around dawn and dusk, but may also be active during the day. They remain in shadier
07:12 patches of forest and hide well, but when they take flight, they are hard to miss.
07:31 Number 4. Cairns Birdwing Butterfly Caterpillar
07:35 The gorgeous Cairns Birdwing Butterfly has a simple but beautiful beginning.
07:42 These spiky caterpillars are native to northeast Australia, and begin their lives on the leaves
07:48 of a rainforest vine called Aristolochia. These vines are poisonous to other caterpillars,
07:54 and even humans. But the Cairns Birdwing Butterflies and Caterpillars love the stuff.
07:58 In fact, they store the ingested toxins in the fleshy spines on their backs,
08:03 and it works as a deadly defense against their predators.
08:05 The adults they become are the largest butterflies in Australia,
08:09 and they are equally striking, particularly the vibrant multicolored males.
08:15 Number 3. Cecropia Moth Caterpillar
08:28 You'll find this funky looking dude anywhere throughout the United States and Canada,
08:33 and you won't have much trouble noticing them. Thanks to their odd appearance and the fact that
08:38 they grow up to 4 inches, as they pack on the weight, they turn from black to bright sea green
08:43 to a bluish green. They may look scary, thanks to the spiky blue, orange, and yellow protuberances,
08:49 but rest assured it's all for show. Cecropia Moth Caterpillars don't sting or cause any harm
08:54 to humans. When they mature, they are one of North America's most spectacular species of moth.
08:59 The adults have a reddish-orange body with brown wings that have colorful bands of orange,
09:07 tan, and white, with some eye spots to fool predators.
09:10 Now, let's take a little break to check out today's subscriber pick.
09:17 Remember, if you come across something bizarre or unexplainable while scrolling through the internet,
09:22 be sure to send it over to us and we'll investigate. We might even feature it in a future
09:26 video. Let's see today's pick. Well, that's certainly one of the more unique caterpillars
09:32 we've come across. We did a little digging and investigating and we're happy to report
09:37 that these actually do exist. The Translucent Jewel Caterpillar
09:42 You can see why it has the name. They're often also referred to as slug caterpillars
09:49 because of their gooey appearance. They're commonly found in tropical wet, subtropical wet,
09:54 subtropical dry, and warm-temperate wet forests. The glutinous cones on their backs break off
10:00 pretty easily. You could even pull them off by accident. In an experiment, some ants were
10:06 introduced into a petri dish of these caterpillars. Many ant species devour caterpillars, another
10:12 plump grub, if they get the chance. So, this was basically a buffet breakfast. Once inside the
10:17 petri dish, the ants inspected the larvae with their antennae, but most of them backed away
10:21 without trying to take a bite. The few ants that chomped down got their mouths temporarily stuck
10:26 in the larvae's jelly coat or pulled away quickly and cleaned the gunk off their mandibles.
10:31 The scientists concluded that the ants were deterred purely because of its stickiness.
10:36 When they mature, they're much less sticky and more small and hairy. They are yellow-orange
10:41 to red-brown with yellow veins, and their hind wings are yellow-orange and paler than their
10:47 forewings. You could say the caterpillars are much prettier than the moths in this case too.
10:51 Before we take a look at the number one most beautiful transformation,
10:58 we have a quick challenge for you. In the next 5 seconds, go ahead and subscribe to the 4Evergreen
11:03 channel and hit that bell icon to be notified anytime we upload a new video, which is every
11:08 2 days. So, you don't want to miss out. Do it and you're guaranteed 2 Christmases this year.
11:14 Twice the presents! Let's take a look at number 1. The Glass-Winged Butterfly
11:21 The glass-winged butterfly truly looks like something out of a fantasy movie.
11:27 You're likely to run into them anywhere from Central to South America, with a few rare
11:34 appearances in Texas and Mexico too. They usually thrive in the more tropical conditions South
11:40 America has to offer. When they are caterpillars, they are green with bright purple and red stripes,
11:46 and have dorsal projections that are made smooth with filaments, all of which makes them extremely
11:51 reflective and practically invisible to predators. They also eat plants too poisonous for other
11:56 insects and birds, which safeguards them against such predators. As adults, the trait of hiding
12:02 in plain sight carries on with the help of their beautiful transparent wings, which allow it to
12:06 camouflage without needing to change color. As delicate as they may seem, the glass-winged
12:11 butterfly can actually carry up to 40 times its weight. Their transparent wings are lined with an
12:16 opaque dark brown color, and they have a wingspan of a little over 2 inches. Even at this stage,
12:22 their defense against predators is the poison from the plants they consume.
12:26 The good news is, so long as you don't chomp down on them, they're safe to touch.
12:32 Well, that's it for the top 10 most beautiful caterpillar transformations.
12:37 Which one was your favorite? Let us know in the comments below. If you enjoyed this video,
12:42 give us a like and check out the other videos on our channel. We have tons of stuff just like this.
12:47 Thanks for watching and we'll see you next time.
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