SAXTON B. LITTLE FREE LIBRARY
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JUNE 7, 2009
Lepidoptera ~ Updated 8/11/09

          ***Updated 8/11/09***
Click here for a great bookmark featuring books about Caterpillars created by Linda Williams, CT State Library.

Sounds pretty exotic, doesn't it? Caterpillars are the larval form of a member of the order Lepidoptera (the insect order comprising butterflies and moths). My interest in caterpillars was piqued this week when my husband began painting our garage floor. Something in the paint has attracted hundreds of caterpillars. We've been invaded and it's not pretty! They're everywhere, on the sidewalk, all over the house, but particularly on the garage floor. I suppose you could call it justice that many of them have become stuck in the paint. Those that have escaped have left a strange squiggly pattern we hadn't planned.

Did you know there are hundreds of species of caterpillars? Neither did I until I started doing some research about them. Some turn into butterflies, some turn into moths. Some are hairy, some are spiny, some give off an obnoxious odor. I read somewhere that they have 4,000 muscles as compared to humans who have 629 (do you believe everything you read?). They're rich in protein, not that I've ever tried one. They rely on their antennae to help them find food. Most eat only plants. So what are they doing in my garage?

I couldn't tell you what kind are visiting us. I think they're gypsy moths or possibly tent caterpillars. Though they're kind of cute, they're kind of messy too.

I think the best kind of caterpillars are those who are characters in books. What could be cuter than Henry Hump : born to fly / written by Steve Tiller ; illustrated by Robert Cremeans, or The caterpillar that roared / by Michael Lawrence ; illustrated by Alison Bartlett. ; or my very favorite, The very hungry caterpillar / by Eric Carle.


Oh, and that picture that starts this blog...Believe it or not, that's Hookah-Smoking Caterpillar. from Alice in Wonderland.

                             

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