11/21/2017
Nov 21, 2007
When I took these images last year, I giggled with childlike wonder to myself thinking, wow, how cool these caterpillars are clustered together like they are! I saw movement, flow, vibrant coloring, detailed reoccurring patterns, hairy covering, a variety of appendages all perfectly put together as these caterpillars! And look how they have there bodies bowed out! It's like art, how Divine! Others around me exclaimed "icky", "eewww", "they are killing the blueberry bush, must get rid of"...
As I look at the images today and think back on all of that, it comes to me how quick I can judge what is in front of me as "bad, wrong, harmful" and is that really true? These are Datana minstra, the yellownecked catepillar, a moth of the family Notodontide. They are labeled as "a key pest of shade trees". Labeled as "pests" by shade tree grove owners concerned for their harvest as they see leaves consumed by the caterpillars and I get it. Yet the Yellowneck Caterpillar is only following its innate instructions to feed, feed, feed for the next stage of its development, moth. And the cycle begins again. All along the way, they give and take to the abundance of nature's way and the balance of Mother Earth. Bad, pests, harmful? Not for the caterpillar caterpillaring.
I love the magnificent classroom this world provides for me! The richness of what I first notice with these physical eyes and then what comes into focus through the lens of my camera. And then what continues to unfold as I enjoy the images and ponder more deeply my thoughts and feelings.
It is a gift for me to share these and any other images I share on FB, in person, thru my cards, etc. along with my thoughts. ENJOY!
