In my yard, I discovered something very strange. At first glance, it appeared to be a long, winding rope laying on the grass, as if it had been dropped on purpose. But then I realized, “What if it’s a snake?!” My heart started racing. I instantly grabbed my phone, took a photo, and, pumped up, started to approach. Every step felt stiff; the thought of something harmful was terrifying.

When I got close enough to look, I was overcome with horror. There wasn’t a rope. It was not a snake, either. In front of me crawled a slow-moving column of roughly 150 caterpillars, which I subsequently counted! They moved in a straight line, densely packed together, as if guided by an invisible leader. I had no idea this was possible, let alone in my own yard!

Where were they heading? Why are there so many? These questions refuse to leave my head. Some feel that moving caterpillars in groups can deter predators. Perhaps they find food more easily that way. Perhaps it’s a strategy to save energy: the ones in advance clear the path, so the ones in back don’t have to work as hard. Do you know where they came from or where they were going?