Look at the peculiar caterpillar of the Lobster Moth ([fig. 23])—a creature that differs from most other caterpillars not only in its claspers, but in many other respects too. Observe its long and slender legs, its humped middle segments, and its upturned hindermost segment, of enormous size and mounted with a pair of clubbed 'horns.' This last segment you will observe, has no claspers.
Another allied caterpillar is that of the Iron Prominent Moth ([fig. 24]). This one also has humped segments, and the claspers of the thirteenth segment are imperfectly developed.
A large number of other exceptions to the general rule are to be found in the caterpillars of the Geometer Moths ([page 268]), one of which is here represented. These have generally only two pairs of
claspers, one pair on each of the tenth and last segments, so that there is a distance equal to the combined length of six segments between the hindermost true leg and the first pair of claspers. But even among the Geometers there are variations to be observed in the number of claspers, and some of these will be pointed out in our brief descriptions of the commoner species.
Fig. 24.—Caterpillar of the Iron Prominent Moth (Dromedarius).
Fig. 25.—Larva of the Brimstone Moth (Luteolata).