During recess yesterday, the seventh grade girls found some caterpillars. They were carrying them around on sticks and in their hands, they named them, and they were offering them leaves.
It was rather pleasant in the shade.
When the girls showed them to me, I said: “Awww… If those caterpillars were in my garden, I would kill them all.” They were tent caterpillars. They are horrible, horrible pests. They build webs in trees, and eat all the leaves off the tree. They damaged several of my apple trees last year. Ugh.
One of the girls asked if they could bring them inside and put them in a container she had. I said yes, because I figured that the caterpillars would at least be taken temporarily out of circulation. And if they died under the care of an untrained caretaker, even better.
I don’t think tent caterpillars would normally eat buttercup plants.
Here, sir, is where you and I differ. Kill them, yes, but quickly dispatch them. Poor, suffering, terrible caterpillars. They’re just as God made them….
This coming from a teacher who has a live tick in a magnifying container so we call all know what to watch for on the playground. I need to smash that tick.
Is There An “Insect” Rights Activist Group?? I agree with both of you…..I usually just leave them alone….I certainly don’t go “hunting” for them…..But, if there isn’t a need for them at this time in my life and they are in some “unnecessary” place…..SMUSH!!! <3 Aunt Bev 🙂
http://www.tubechop.com/watch/5870785
My goodness! How old are the Rolling Stones in those pictures? They look like they’re freshmen in high school!