Hawai‘i Volcanoes NPS
Hawaiian carnivorous caterpillar, Eupithecia
This voracious little creature is not a worm at all, but rather a voraciously carnivorous Hawaiian caterpillar of the genus Eupithecia. These meat-eating caterpillars are unique to Hawai‘i and are very likely the only carnivorous caterpillars in the world. They wait motionlessly for hours until an unsuspecting insect brushes the tiny hairs on its lower backside. In less than a tenth of a second, the caterpillar swings opens its jaws, swings around and slams them shut on its prey. After flaying its impaled victim for a brief second, he sinks his fangs into its head and begins his grisly dinner.
NPS Photo/Jay Robinson
Hawaiian carnivorous caterpillar, Eupithecia
This voracious little creature is not a worm at all, but rather a voraciously carnivorous Hawaiian caterpillar of the genus Eupithecia. These meat-eating caterpillars are unique to Hawai‘i and are very likely the only carnivorous caterpillars in the world. They wait motionlessly for hours until an unsuspecting insect brushes the tiny hairs on its lower backside. In less than a tenth of a second, the caterpillar swings opens its jaws, swings around and slams them shut on its prey. After flaying its impaled victim for a brief second, he sinks his fangs into its head and begins his grisly dinner.
NPS Photo/Jay Robinson