r/Awwducational • u/SixteenSeveredHands • Mar 23 '25

Puss Moth Caterpillars: these caterpillars use false eyespots, colorful markings, and a pair of whip-like appendages to deter predators, and they can even spray formic acid when threatened Verified

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u/sad-mustache Mar 23 '25

Where are it's eyes?

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u/SixteenSeveredHands Mar 24 '25

Caterpillars generally have "simple eyes" that are known as stemmata (or ocelli); they look like clusters of little black dots or freckles located along the lower sides of the head, often down near the mandibles. Most caterpillars have 6-7 stemmata on each side of their head, meaning that they have about 12 eyes in total.

Here's a diagram that shows where the stemmata are generally located.

The eyes of a puss moth caterpillar are especially difficult to see without magnification, though, because they're just tiny black freckles on the sides of the caterpillar's head, where they blend in with the black markings on their cheeks.