Viral diseases
Caterpillars are often killed by diseases caused
by naturally occurring bacteria, fungi, or viruses. Caterpillars
killed by viruses and bacteria may turn dark, and their bodies
may become soft
and limp. These carcasses, hanging limply from foliage or twigs,
eventually degenerate into a sack of liquefied matter. When broken,
they release more viral particles or bacterial spores that infect
other caterpillars
that eat contaminated foliage. Such disease outbreaks can rapidly
reduce populations under favorable conditions, although outbreaks
are difficult to predict and may not occur until caterpillar populations
have become high.
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Silverspotted tiger moth caterpillars
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