Tuesday 5 June 2007

Caterpillar snacks

My garden is full of pests. This army worm (Mythimna) was having a snooze under the newspaper mulch when I accidentally uncovered it. Army worms are so named because they march (at a caterpillar's pace) across grasslands, wreaking havoc (just as unhurriedly) on the vegetation as they go.

But what they lack in speed, they make up for in numbers. Army worms can cause serious damage to cereal crops by snipping off the seed heads.

This drowsy caterpillar seemed to be on its own. I look forward to the day when it gathers up its mates to lay waste to the weeds in the back yard. I, for one, salute our new larval overlords.