Posted by:
lele
at Wed Dec 7 13:50:29 2005 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by lele ]
Will,
Yes, I will follow up - I made the statement because it is a fact.  I have been rearing Lepidoptera for many years with the Manduca spp. (hornworms) being the one that got me into breeding Saturniids (wild silk moths). Some Lep caterpillars can bite each other if in crowded conditions (rarely in the wild, mainly in captive rearing, silkworms will do this, too) but that is because their "skin" is soft and easily torn. Its horn, which is a firm yet pliable protuberance, cannot cause any problem either. It is used in nature as a defense mechanism to deter predators (primarily birds).
That said, they do "spit" which is actually regurgitation of their food to deter predators, too. Many caterpillars do this along with thrashing their head around. The "lowly" caterpillar is truly a fascinating creature to study. I care for hundreds of them every summer and never tire of watching them! 
As for the butterworms, they will not bite your cham (though can get a mild grip) but they are serious wood borers! I have a friend in FL who owns a framing gallery (and has herps) and said that she has had wood damaged due to escaped butterworms.
lele
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Chameleon Help & Resource Info
0.1 Veiled Chameleon - Luna. She's now hanging from her big jungle gym in the sky
1.0 Beardie - Darwin
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Lita
0.1 African Clawed Frog - Skipper
0.1 Mad. Hissers and she is on the loose!
0.1 Chilean Rose Hair Tarantula - Rosa Leigh
0.1 Goliath Bird-Eater Tarantula - Natasha
?.? Pinktoe Tarantula - no name yet
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RE: Follow up anyone? - lele, Wed Dec 7 13:50:29 2005 