Food
Herbivore
Caterpillars eat leaves.
Plant eater
HomeAnimals A–ZLetter CCaterpillar
Caterpillar Facts for Kids: C Is for Caterpillar
A caterpillar eats and eats and grows very fast. Later it turns into a butterfly or a moth. Here are easy caterpillar facts for kids: what caterpillars eat, how big they grow, what a baby caterpillar is called and where caterpillars live. Read them out loud, try the quiz, then color the letter C.
Insecttype
Herbivorediet
Larvababy name
Fun facts
Fun Facts About Caterpillars
Two more true facts about the caterpillar that kids love. Tap the button to hear the name, then read each fact together.
Cc
Say “Caterpillar”
Caterpillar starts with the letter C. Clap once for each part of the word as you say it.
1
Did you know?
A caterpillar can eat many times its own weight in leaves.
2
One more fact
It has up to 4,000 muscles in its little body.
Act it outMove like a caterpillar for ten seconds.
Spot the letterFind the letter C in “Caterpillar”.
Ask a questionWhat would a caterpillar eat for breakfast?
Quick facts
Caterpillar Facts at a Glance
Everything a curious kid wants to know about the caterpillar, in eight short cards.
Size
How big?
A caterpillar is from a few millimeters to about 12 cm long.
Body sizeLife
How long?
Caterpillars live for a few weeks before it turns into a moth or butterfly.
LifespanBaby
Larva
A baby caterpillar is called a larva.
Baby nameGroup
Army
A group of caterpillars is called an army.
Group nameHabitat
Gardens
Caterpillars are found in gardens and forests worldwide.
Where they liveAnimal type
Insect
A caterpillar eats and eats and grows very fast. Later it turns into a butterfly or a moth.
Caterpillar is an insectLetter
C is for caterpillar
Caterpillar has 11 letters and starts with C.
Say: Caterpillar
Quick quiz
Caterpillar Quiz for Kids
A tiny game to check what stuck. Read the question out loud and let your little one tap the answer.
Question 1
Score: 0
Free download
Free printable
Caterpillar Coloring Page: Letter C Worksheet
Done reading about the caterpillar? Print the free letter C sheet, say “C is for caterpillar” together and color the big letters. Great for circle time, morning work or a quiet afternoon at home.
1
Download the PDFOne click, no sign-up or email
2
Print at home or schoolFits US Letter and A4 paper
3
Color and traceBig letters and dotted tracing lines
Uppercase CLowercase cTracing practiceFind the C animals
Download Free PDF
3 pages, black & white
Questions
All FAQs
Caterpillar Questions Kids Ask
Caterpillars eat leaves. That makes the caterpillar a herbivore, which means it is a plant eater.
A caterpillar is from a few millimeters to about 12 cm long.
Caterpillars live for a few weeks before it turns into a moth or butterfly.
A baby caterpillar is called a larva.
A group of caterpillars is called an army.
Caterpillars live in gardens and forests worldwide. Their favorite habitat is: gardens.
Yes. The caterpillar is an insect. A caterpillar eats and eats and grows very fast. Later it turns into a butterfly or a moth.
Caterpillar starts with the letter C. Say it slowly and listen for the C sound at the start.
Keep exploring
All C animals
More Animals Like the Caterpillar
Other C animals and more insects to read about next.
Mammal
Cats sleep a lot, often 12 hours a day or more. Their whiskers help them feel their way in the dark.
Lives in: Everywhere Read cat factsMammal
Cows have a stomach with four parts to help them break down grass. A baby cow is called a calf.
Lives in: Farms Read cow factsInsect
Dragonflies can fly forward, backward and even hover in one spot. Their huge eyes help them see almost all the way around.
Lives in: Wetlands Read dragonfly factsInsect
A housefly’s big eyes are made of thousands of tiny lenses. It can walk upside down on the ceiling.
Lives in: Everywhere Read fly facts