Hawaiian 'Bone Collector' Caterpillar Discovered With Unique Camouflage and Predatory Behavior

Carnivorous 'bone collector' caterpillar dresses in the remains of its prey

It creeps along spiderwebs, feeding on trapped insects and decorating its silk case with their body parts.

"Bone collector" caterpillar disguises itself in the remains of its prey, scientists say

There are other meat-eating caterpillars that "do lots of crazy things, but this takes the cake," the study's author said.

Guess how the ‘bone collector’ caterpillar decorates itself

Bone collector caterpillar cases covered in insect body parts. Credit: Rubinoff lab, Entomology Section, University of Hawaii, Manoa Deep in the tree hollows, logs, and rock cavities on a mountain on the Hawaiian island of Oʻahu, there dwells a macabre caterpillar – with a penchant for body parts. This rare carnivorous caterpillar skulks about on cobwebs and feasts upon any weakened or recently deceased insects trapped there. It employs a morbid…

Here is an antbone, there the head of a ruffle beetle: On a Hawaiian island, researchers have discovered a caterpillar that eats insects – and adorns itself with the remains of their victims.

Carnivorous caterpillar dresses in prey's remains

NEW YORK — A new carnivorous caterpillar that wears the remains of its prey was dubbed the "bone collector."

Hawaiian caterpillar patrols spiderwebs camouflaged in insect prey’s body parts