Some of these caterpillars live almost a year, then become a moth and die with 2 weeks.
Amazing creatures.
Photographer and caterpillar lover Samuel Jaffe:
“As a photographer, caterpillars intrigue me as subjects because of their unbelievable defensive adaptations,” Jaffe tells My Modern Met. “Many are unmatched mimics of the leaves and twigs of their host plants. Some mimic other creatures like snakes and spiders that may be threatening to their predators. Others might look like bird poop, galls, or detritus. Many caterpillars also perform bizarre defensive dances, have inflatable horns, bright warning colors, or other surprises. Caterpillars are unmatched tricksters and I love capturing and describing these survival strategies in a single photograph.”
Through in-school programs, teacher training, and collaborations with organizations like the Boston Children’s Museum and Vermont Institute of Natural Science, Jaffe and the rest of the staff is helping the rest of the world fall in love with caterpillars, one species at a time.
