I've been looking at bugs again lately, specifically monarch larva. The caterpillars have devoured every green sprig on the large butterfly milkweed plant in my flowerbed where they were hatched, and they are on the move, searching for the perfect place to form a chrysalis. Imagine having to buy your groceries blindfolded at Walmart, and you have the idea.
At the bottom, a thin blade of grass presents itself, and from the sidelines I call out "No! Bad move! Turn back!", but he is not listening. Half way up the frail stem, the grass doubles over under the weight of the the caterpillar and dumps him to the ground. Then he's up again, walking toward the nearest stem that will take him to a frail leaf and another setback, and, like Serena Williams' father during a tense tennis match, I have to walk away.
I kneel down to observe the journey, and it's maddening to watch, like a thriller in slow motion.
The small creature before me crawls to the end of a long leaf that leads nowhere,
grips the end of the leaf with his back legs and flails back and forth, groping in the air for any new purchase...
...before turning around and heading back to where where he started.
At the bottom, a thin blade of grass presents itself, and from the sidelines I call out "No! Bad move! Turn back!", but he is not listening. Half way up the frail stem, the grass doubles over under the weight of the the caterpillar and dumps him to the ground. Then he's up again, walking toward the nearest stem that will take him to a frail leaf and another setback, and, like Serena Williams' father during a tense tennis match, I have to walk away.
One way or another, they all manage to find their places without my help. With thin silken strands, they attach their back end to some stem or leaf.
Falling limp, they dangle upside down, curled into a J shape. Then they wait.
When the moment is right, a transformation takes place and a chrysalis is formed, an exquisite jewel studded with fine gold.
In the next ten days, more or less, a butterfly will develop inside the shelter of this bright green package,
and for the time being, at least, I can exhale.
Linking with Saturday's Critters
In the next ten days, more or less, a butterfly will develop inside the shelter of this bright green package,
and for the time being, at least, I can exhale.
Linking with Saturday's Critters
