While spending time in my yard, I came across something deeply unsettling. At first, it looked like a long, twisted rope lying across the grass, as though someone had deliberately left it there. Then a sudden thought struck me: “What if that’s a snake?” My pulse quickened. I immediately pulled out my phone, snapped a photo, and cautiously began to move closer. Each step felt tense and heavy, driven by the fear that I might be approaching something dangerous.
When I finally got close enough to see clearly, I was stunned. It wasn’t a rope, and it wasn’t a snake either. What lay before me was a slow, creeping line of caterpillars—around 150 of them, which I later counted. They moved together in a tightly packed formation, forming a straight, continuous column, as if following an unseen leader. I had never imagined witnessing something like that, especially not in my own backyard.
I couldn’t stop wondering where they were headed or why there were so many of them. The questions lingered in my mind. Some believe that traveling in groups helps caterpillars ward off predators. Others suggest it makes finding food easier. There’s also the idea that this formation conserves energy, with the caterpillars in front clearing the way so those behind expend less effort. Do you have any idea where they might have come from—or where they were going?
