Do Caterpillars have sex?

Don Herbison-Evans ( donherbisonevans@yahoo.com )
&
Stella Crossley

(updated 31 December 2008)

Butterflies and moths have their gender defined by the chromosomes that tney are born with, so whether an individual insect is male of female is determined before it is even laid as an egg.


male

female
Caterpillars of Cephrenes augiades

Caterpillars are the immature forms of their species, like children in our species. Only the adult moths and butterflies can have sex. However: the developing sexual organs may be seen through the transparent skin of some caterpillar species, typically as a pair of yellow organs, one each side of the dark dorsal heart line

Link to
Frequently Asked Questions about Caterpillars

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