Borneo Caterpillar Makes Cocoon Out of Dried Resin

Posted on January 31, 2015

A caterpillar has been discovered in the forests of Borneo that makes its nests out of resin. No other butterfly or moth on Earth is known to make cocoons out of resin. The caterpillar was discovered by a team of researchers led by Professor William Symondson from Cardiff University.

A Cardiff report says the caterpillar manipulates resin material to ensure the inside of the cocoon is smooth. The resin barrier protects the caterpillar and pupa from predators.

Professor Symondson says he goes to the University's field station, Danau Girang, on the Kinabatangan river, each year. He says a red caterpillar caught his eye on this trip. Symondson says, "One day I spotted this strange red caterpillar behaving oddly on a patch of resin on the trunk of a tree, pointing it out to the students. The caterpillar was mainly bright red, which caught my attention, and hairy. I came back at intervals during the day and photographed the various stages of construction of the cocoon."

Symondson also says, "We know of no other cases from anywhere in the world of a caterpillar making a cocoon out of flakes of resin."

Symondson says the resin barrier acts as a toxic barrier to predators of the caterpillar. He says, "he resin not only physically hides the pupa well but also any inquisitive predator, bird or insect, has to get past a highly toxic barrier. Few are likely to be able to do so."

The exact species has not yet been identified. If a resin cocoon with a pupa still inside can be found then they will be able to solve the mystery.

You can view photographs of the caterpillar's magnificent resin cocoon here on BBC Earth. A research paper on the cocoon is located here in the Journal of Natural History. Whales Online notes that Professor Symondson also discovered carnivorous ghost slug in 2012.

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