As we mentioned last time, Inokashira Park Zoo 's "Animal Plaza" is currently in the peak season for Japanese Rhinoceros Beetle, a popular summer creature.

- "Let's play at the 'Creature Plaza' [4]" (July 13, 2012)

This time, let's introduce caterpillars, a seemingly inconspicuous creature among the many living things in the plaza. They are the larvae of butterflies and moths, but they are not very popular with children. Perhaps it's because they don't move much and are hard to spot as they blend in with leaves and branches, which doesn't appeal to children.

However, upon closer observation, the forms of each species are incredibly unique, with excessive ornamentation that makes you wonder, "Did they really need to go that far?", and remarkable camouflage. While these forms are likely the result of necessity, they are very fascinating to caterpillar enthusiasts.

So where can you find caterpillars? To find them, it's important to know what plants each type of caterpillar eats. Once you find the plant, carefully observe it for signs of eating on the leaves and for any droppings.

In the plaza, plants that serve as food for each type of caterpillar are planted. Mandarin orange and yuzu trees attract swallowtail and black swallowtail larvae, which brilliantly mimic bird droppings. Boehmeria plants attract the hawk moth larvae, which shake their bodies violently when poked with a finger, and the red admiral larvae, which fold leaves to build nests. Hackberry trees attract the larvae of the common purple emperor butterfly and the red-spotted purple butterfly. Both resemble the larvae of the great purple emperor butterfly, which are no longer seen in this area, and have endearing horns.

In addition, it's delightful when the larvae you hoped to attract appear on the trees you planted, such as the hummingbird hawk-moth on the gardenia or the blue swallowtail on the camphor tree. As of July 18, 2012, a total of 37 species of butterflies and moths, including adults, have been confirmed in the plaza.

Doesn't this make you want to go look for caterpillars too? Seeing is believing. Decide to "find lots of caterpillars today" and observe the plaza. Our staff will also help you find caterpillars!

[Inokashira Park Zoo Education and Outreach Section, Mikako Takamatsu]

(July 20, 2012)