Prolegs

Also, the larvae of all Apocrita lack legs, prolegs, or ocelli.

Although the point has been debated, prolegs are not widely regarded as true legs, derived from the primitive uniramous limbs.

Butterfly caterpillars have three pairs of true legs on the thoracic segments and up to six pairs of prolegs arising from the abdominal segments.

Prolegs do have limited musculature, but much of their movement is hydraulically powered.

The prolegs do not have crochet hooks at the ends unlike the larvae of the Lepidoptera.

These aid in gripping and walking, especially in species that lack many prolegs (e. g. larvae of Geometridae ).

They have cylindrical bodies, with ten segments to the abdomen, generally with short prolegs on segments 3–6 and 10; the three pairs of true legs on the thorax have five segments each.

Unlike caterpillars, however, the prolegs have no grasping spines, and the antennae are reduced to mere stubs.