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August 31, 2005
The Early Bird Catches the Caterpillar
I was up a little early this morning (yesterday morning) (a feat which will not be duplicated this morning). It was a beautiful morning, and a very comfortable temperature; the perfect time to visit my neglected garden.
Half of this garden was planted for one purpose: to attract caterpillars that we could watch. Specifically, black swallowtail caterpillars, because I know they're plentiful in the area and I know what they like to eat. I planted half a garden box with lantana, purple coneflower, dill, and lots and lots of parsley.
Nothing. Not an egg. Not a caterpillar.
So imagine my delight this morning when I came across two huge, fat ones! We grabbed a couple of glass jars and stuck one in each, along with a nice stick for each, and bunches of parsley. Then we sat back to ... watch them poop.
I forget how much caterpillars do that.
Or how much it fascinates the kids.
I didn't put lids on the jar, because I didn't remember that caterpillars can actually climb up glass. One's stick was longer than the jar, so over that jar I fit a piece of paper around the stick. Both made their escape attempts at the same time, in an eerily coordinated manner, the one pushing his way right past the paper cover. We gathered them up before the cats could find them and dashed their hopes of regaining freedom by plopping the lids on the jars. I had to shorten the one stick, so I very carefully and gently broke the end off.
The caterpillar was on the stick at the time, which is why I was being careful.
Sometimes when you're being very careful, the bottom half of the stick rebounds anyway.
Caterpillars are tenacious, but they don't hold on when their end of the stick rebounds. That thing flew halfway across the kitchen. It was impressive. I expected to find a little pile of smashed caterpillar goo on the kitchen floor, but no - it was alive! These things are tough!
They're back in their jars now, with lids. The one that took his maiden flight sans wings has been holding on to his stick and moving his head all around. I hope this means he's thinking of making his chrysalis, and not that he's in his death throes from internal injuries.
The other caterpillar is sitting on a parsley stalk, pooping.
The batteries in the camera are recharging. I'll take pictures of them in the morning, if they're still alive.
This is what they look like. And when you scare them or tick them off, the caterpillars stick a big orange tongue out at you.
Posted by lynx at August 31, 2005 1:38 AM
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Comments
OH, that's GREAT!!! LOL
Posted by: Pensguys at August 31, 2005 8:09 AM
OMG! I've got tears coming out. LOL!!!! You write soooo well! I read it to Mike...thru his laughter, he said that was some science experiment.
Posted by: Diane at August 31, 2005 10:55 PM
Ahhhh! you just reminded me I have a dead caterpillar on the porch to remove. So sad. But they are lots of fun to watch. Although not nearly as much fun as watching tadpoles turn into frogs....
Posted by: elisabeth at August 31, 2005 11:03 PM