They may be small but inchworms have the appetite of a creature much bigger than them and will eat a variety of fruit, vegetables and the foliage from shrubs and trees. They are hydrated from the natural moisture in what they eat. Their diet can include celery, cabbage, cauliflower, radishes, beans, parsley, broccoli, potatoes, tomatoes, peas and apples. Even though this list is extensive (and only a selection of what inchworms will eat), they tend to stick to what they have hatched onto - moving them and giving them something else could make them die.
There are more than 1,200 different types of inchworms in North America alone, including the canker worm and the cabbage looper. When it comes to crops, the canker worm is probably the most destructive, though it is particularly beautiful. It has long horizontal stripes and drops from trees with long silken threads to evade predators.
Once inchworms have hatched, they spend up to four weeks munching through whatever it is they have been laid on. After this, they spin cocoons and eventually emerge from their chrysalis as beautiful moths.
Although there are so many different types of inch worms, they do have many common characteristics. They have smooth, hairless bodies and will typically grow to an inch long. Their colors vary from dull brown and black to vivid greens and yellows. They have three pairs of legs at the front of their bodies and two to three more pairs of pro-legs, or larval abdominal appendages at the rear. They move by drawing their back end forward and gripping the earth with their pro-legs. If they feel threatened or intimidated they will stand up straight and motionless until whatever is threatening them has gone away. Many inchworms have the ability to produce delicate threads, like spiders, but in one instance the thread is pure silk.
There are more than 1,200 different types of inchworms in North America alone, including the canker worm and the cabbage looper. When it comes to crops, the canker worm is probably the most destructive, though it is particularly beautiful. It has long horizontal stripes and drops from trees with long silken threads to evade predators.
Once inchworms have hatched, they spend up to four weeks munching through whatever it is they have been laid on. After this, they spin cocoons and eventually emerge from their chrysalis as beautiful moths.
Although there are so many different types of inch worms, they do have many common characteristics. They have smooth, hairless bodies and will typically grow to an inch long. Their colors vary from dull brown and black to vivid greens and yellows. They have three pairs of legs at the front of their bodies and two to three more pairs of pro-legs, or larval abdominal appendages at the rear. They move by drawing their back end forward and gripping the earth with their pro-legs. If they feel threatened or intimidated they will stand up straight and motionless until whatever is threatening them has gone away. Many inchworms have the ability to produce delicate threads, like spiders, but in one instance the thread is pure silk.
