The front porch area must be a good egg-laying place for Mama American Dagger Moth, that's her picture up above. We've come across her caterpillars at least ten times over the years. Always on the wall right outside or just inside the front door and always a singleton. I imagine the event occurs every summer, that sometimes we just miss it. Some years the kids tried to save the caterpillar by finding it a better place to be. Last year after a porch redo, I, too, was certain it was confused and needed saving so I carried it to some vegetation, but it inched right back to climb the wall by the front door again. Twice. So this year, I simply ran for the camera and followed along. Alert: At one point Baby falls five feet onto hard flagstone.
Looking both ways.
I kept telling her to be careful, the glass is slippery.
Didn't miss a beat.
One last time up the wall?
Change of plan.
Home.
What a wonderful adventure for you and the baby. I always tell myself that Mom Nature has seen to the critters long before I was born, so I need not "help". Alas, I still want to try.
ReplyDeleteJeannie, oh I hear ya! It's sometimes more than I can bear though. Last year, I just went back into the house so I wouldn't have to watch all that effort to go nowhere. That's probably how I look to the people who'd like to fix me. Ha.
ReplyDeletewell that was fun to follow along.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Cindy!
ReplyDeleteOooo...that was fun!
ReplyDeleteFuzzy little guy
Nancy -- it was nature t.v.!
ReplyDeleteI was wondering "Why?" the caterpillar did what it did and it occurred to me maybe the test was not for the caterpillar, but for you?
ReplyDeleteOr vice versa, maybe the test was for the caterpillar...
Who knows?
Just a thought....
none the less, it was fun to see what happened.
: )
Marie, oh my goddess, I think you're right! Just like learning to allow the people in our lives to make their own choices, but we're still there to bear witness and cheer them on and tsk-tsk when they fall. Yes. I think you're right. Thank you, dear woman. For all the self-analysis I put myself through, I didn't even think of it.
ReplyDeletelolol thats a gutsy lass.............a rock climbing furry and leaping off tall buildings too! phew......
ReplyDeleteThese photos are wonderful, such a lovely little creature. I wonder if you have a Hackberry tree nearby?
ReplyDeleteLyn, oh she was a tough one, alright!
ReplyDeleteGracie, thank you. We don't have a hackberry -- is that the host plant/tree? We live in the middle of the city so there's bound to be one somewhere, I'll have to research the hackberry to get to know it! Thanks for the tip.
ReplyDelete