Organism
Caterpillar
TL;DR
Caterpillars are herbivores that trigger sophisticated plant defense responses.
Caterpillars are herbivores that trigger sophisticated plant defense responses. Plants can distinguish caterpillar damage from mechanical damage by detecting chemical signatures in caterpillar saliva, enabling targeted defensive responses including VOC release that recruits caterpillar predators.
Notable Traits of Caterpillar
- Saliva contains detectable chemical signatures
- Triggers plant VOC defense responses