How generalist caterpillars neutralize plant toxins that picky relatives can't handle
Cotton bollworm caterpillars survive plant toxins called furanocoumarins by using a two-step chemical cleanup: one enzyme modifies the toxin, then a second family of enzymes attaches a sugar to make it harmless. A close relative that eats fewer plants lacks this teamwork and is far more sensitive, which helps explain why some caterpillars eat almost anything and others are picky.