Worm vs. Caterpillar: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Published on January 9, 2024
A worm is a soft-bodied, elongated, legless invertebrate, often found in soil or water, while a caterpillar is the larval stage of a butterfly or moth, known for its segmented body and eating habits.
Key Differences
Worms are invertebrates with a soft, elongated body, often without limbs, and can be found in various environments like soil or water. Caterpillars, on the other hand, are the larval form of butterflies and moths, characterized by their segmented bodies and multiple pairs of legs.
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Jan 09, 2024
The term 'worm' encompasses a wide range of species, including earthworms, nematodes, and even parasitic forms. In contrast, caterpillars are specifically the juvenile stage of lepidopterans (butterflies and moths) and are known for their voracious appetite for leaves.
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Worms play a crucial role in ecosystems, particularly in soil aeration and decomposition. Caterpillars, while also important ecologically, are best known for their role in the life cycle of butterflies and moths, undergoing metamorphosis to become adults.
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Jan 09, 2024
Many worms, like earthworms, are beneficial for gardens and agriculture due to their soil-enhancing activities. Conversely, caterpillars can be garden pests, as some species cause significant damage to crops and foliage.
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Jan 09, 2024
Worms typically have a simple life cycle and do not undergo metamorphosis. Caterpillars, however, transform dramatically during their life cycle, changing from larvae into adult butterflies or moths.
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Jan 09, 2024
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Comparison Chart
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Worm and Caterpillar Definitions
Worm
Invertebrate with elongated, soft body
The worm wriggled through the moist soil.
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Caterpillar
Known for its segmented body and multiple legs
This caterpillar has distinct stripes along its body.
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Worm
Diverse group including earthworms, nematodes
There are thousands of different species of worms.
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Caterpillar
Undergoes metamorphosis into an adult
After its pupal stage, the caterpillar emerges as a moth.
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Worm
Any of various invertebrates, especially an annelid, flatworm, nematode, or nemertean, having a long, flexible, rounded or flattened body, often without obvious appendages.
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Caterpillar
Feeds voraciously, often on leaves
Caterpillars can consume large amounts of foliage.
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Worm
Any of various crawling insect larvae, such as a grub or a caterpillar, having a soft elongated body.
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Caterpillar
Can be a pest in gardens and agriculture
Caterpillars are eating the leaves in my vegetable garden.
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Worm
Any of various other animals, such as a shipworm or a slowworm, having a long slender limbless body.
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Worm
Something, such as the thread of a screw or the spiral condenser in a still, that resembles a worm in form or appearance.
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Caterpillar
Any of various insect larvae similar to those of the butterfly or moth.
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Caterpillar
The larva of a butterfly or moth; leafworm
The bird just ate that green caterpillar.
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Worm
An insidiously tormenting or devouring force
“felt the black worm of treachery growing in his heart” (Mario Puzo).
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Worm
Worms Medicine Infestation of the intestines or other parts of the body with parasitic worms; helminthiasis.
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Caterpillar
The larval state of a butterfly or any lepidopterous insect; sometimes, but less commonly, the larval state of other insects, as the sawflies, which are also called false caterpillars. The true caterpillars have three pairs of true legs, and several pairs of abdominal fleshy legs (prolegs) armed with hooks. Some are hairy, others naked. They usually feed on leaves, fruit, and succulent vegetables, being often very destructive, Many of them are popularly called worms, as the cutworm, cankerworm, army worm, cotton worm, silkworm.
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Worm
(Computers) A malicious program that replicates itself until it fills all of the storage space on a drive or network.
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Caterpillar
A plant of the genus Scorpiurus, with pods resembling caterpillars.
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Caterpillar
A wormlike and often brightly colored and hairy or spiny larva of a butterfly or moth
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Worm
To work (one's way or oneself) subtly or gradually; insinuate
She wormed her way into his confidence.
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Caterpillar
A large vehicle that is driven by caterpillar tracks; frequently used for moving earth in construction and farm work
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Worm
To elicit by artful or devious means. Usually used with out of
Wormed a confession out of the suspect.
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Caterpillar
Larval stage of a butterfly or moth
The caterpillar will eventually transform into a beautiful butterfly.
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Worm
To make one's way by artful or devious means
He can't worm out of this situation.
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Worm
More loosely, any of various tubular invertebrates resembling annelids but not closely related to them, such as velvet worms, acorn worms, flatworms, or roundworms.
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Worm
(archaic) A type of wingless "dragon", especially a gigantic sea serpent.
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Worm
Either a mythical "dragon" (especially wingless), a gigantic sea serpent, or a creature that resembles a Mongolian death worm.
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Worm
A contemptible or devious being.
Don't try to run away, you little worm!
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Worm
(computing) A self-replicating program that propagates through a network.
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Worm
(cricket) A graphical representation of the total runs scored in an innings.
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Worm
A spiral instrument or screw, often like a double corkscrew, used for drawing balls from firearms.
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Worm
(anatomy) A muscular band in the tongue of some animals, such as dogs; the lytta.
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Worm
A short revolving screw whose threads drive, or are driven by, a worm wheel or rack by gearing into its teeth.
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Worm
(obsolete) Any creeping or crawling animal, such as a snake, snail, or caterpillar.
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Worm
(figuratively) An internal tormentor; something that gnaws or afflicts one’s mind with remorse.
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Worm
(preceded by definite article) A dance, or dance move, in which the dancer lies on the floor and undulates the body horizontally thereby moving forwards.
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Worm
(transitive) To make (one's way) with a crawling motion.
We wormed our way through the underbrush.
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Worm
To work (one's way or oneself) (into) gradually or slowly; to insinuate.
He wormed his way into the organization.
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Worm
To effect, remove, drive, draw, or the like, by slow and secret means.
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Worm
To drag out of, to get information that someone is reluctant or unwilling to give (through artful or devious means or by pleading or asking repeatedly).
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Worm
To fill in the contlines of (a rope) before parcelling and serving.
Worm and parcel with the lay; turn and serve the other way.
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Worm
(transitive) To cut the worm, or lytta, from under the tongue of (a dog, etc.) for the purpose of checking a disposition to gnaw, and formerly supposed to guard against canine madness.
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Worm
(transitive) To clean by means of a worm; to draw a wad or cartridge from, as a firearm.
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Worm
A creeping or a crawling animal of any kind or size, as a serpent, caterpillar, snail, or the like.
There came a viper out of the heat, and leapt on his hand. When the men of the country saw the worm hang on his hand, they said, This man must needs be a murderer.
'T is slander,Whose edge is sharper than the sword, whose tongueOutvenoms all the worms of Nile.
When Cerberus perceived us, the great worm,His mouth he opened and displayed his tusks.
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Worm
Any small creeping animal or reptile, either entirely without feet, or with very short ones, including a great variety of animals; as, an earthworm; the blindworm.
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Worm
An internal tormentor; something that gnaws or afflicts one's mind with remorse.
The worm of conscience still begnaw thy soul!
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Worm
Anything spiral, vermiculated, or resembling a worm
The threads of screws, when bigger than can be made in screw plates, are called worms.
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Worm
A spiral instrument or screw, often like a double corkscrew, used for drawing balls from firearms.
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Worm
To work slowly, gradually, and secretly.
When debates and fretting jealousyDid worm and work within you more and more,Your color faded.
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Dec 13, 2023
Worm
To effect, remove, drive, draw, or the like, by slow and secret means; - often followed by out.
They find themselves wormed out of all power.
They . . . wormed things out of me that I had no desire to tell.
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Dec 13, 2023
Worm
To cut the worm, or lytta, from under the tongue of, as a dog, for the purpose of checking a disposition to gnaw. The operation was formerly supposed to guard against canine madness.
The men assisted the laird in his sporting parties, wormed his dogs, and cut the ears of his terrier puppies.
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Worm
To wind rope, yarn, or other material, spirally round, between the strands of, as a cable; to wind with spun yarn, as a small rope.
Ropes . . . are generally wormed before they are served.
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Worm
Any of numerous relatively small elongated soft-bodied animals especially of the phyla Annelida and Chaetognatha and Nematoda and Nemertea and Platyhelminthes; also many insect larvae
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Worm
A person who has a nasty or unethical character undeserving of respect
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Worm
A software program capable of reproducing itself that can spread from one computer to the next over a network;
Worms take advantage of automatic file sending and receiving features found on many computers
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Worm
To move in a twisting or contorted motion, (especially when struggling);
The prisoner writhed in discomfort
The child tried to wriggle free from his aunt's embrace
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Worm
Creature often found in soil or water
Gardeners appreciate worms for their soil-enhancing properties.
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Worm
Can be parasitic or non-parasitic
Some worms, like tapeworms, are parasites in animals.
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Worm
Plays a key role in ecosystems
Worms contribute to the decomposition process in nature.
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Repeatedly Asked Queries
What is the primary habitat of worms?
Worms commonly live in soil or water environments.
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Do all worms look the same?
No, there's a wide variety of worm species with different appearances.
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Are worms intelligent?
Worms have simple nervous systems and are not considered intelligent.
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How do worms help in agriculture?
They improve soil structure and fertility through their tunneling and waste.
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Can worms be harmful?
Some parasitic worms can be harmful, but most are beneficial for ecosystems.
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How long does a caterpillar remain in its larval stage?
It varies, but usually a few weeks to a couple of months.
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Jan 09, 2024
What do caterpillars eat?
Most caterpillars eat plant leaves, but some species have different diets.
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Jan 09, 2024
Do caterpillars have wings?
No, caterpillars do not have wings; they develop them during metamorphosis.
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How do caterpillars turn into butterflies?
Through a process called metamorphosis, involving a pupal stage.
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Can caterpillars be dangerous?
Some caterpillars have stinging hairs or spines that can irritate skin.
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Jan 09, 2024
Are all worms beneficial for gardens?
Mostly, especially earthworms, due to their role in soil health.
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How do worms reproduce?
Most worms reproduce sexually, some are hermaphrodites, and others can regenerate from segments.
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Jan 09, 2024
Are caterpillars active at night?
Many species are nocturnal, feeding and moving mostly at night.
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Can worms feel pain?
Worms lack a complex nervous system, so their perception of pain is very rudimentary.
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Do worms have a heart?
Worms do not have a heart like mammals but have a simple circulatory system.
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What colors can caterpillars be?
Caterpillars come in a variety of colors, often vibrant and patterned.
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Do caterpillars have eyes?
Yes, but they are simple and not used for detailed vision.
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Jan 09, 2024
Do caterpillars have teeth?
They have mandibles for chewing leaves, but not teeth in the traditional sense.
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Jan 09, 2024
What is the lifespan of a worm?
It varies by species; some live only a few weeks, while others can live several years.
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Can I keep caterpillars as pets?
Yes, but they require specific care and food depending on the species.
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Jan 09, 2024
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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