The Whole Story: Caterpillars, Connections and Why Biodiversity Matters with Sam Jaffe

Sam Jaffe, founder and director of The Caterpillar Lab, presents a captivating talk for Pollinator Pathway on the world of native caterpillars!
Sam presents directly from a studio set up in The Caterpillar Lab’s museum space, using a combination of live presentation, digital microscope work, slides, and life history image plates to reveal the true scope and importance of biodiversity.
By exploring complex natural history stories involving caterpillars, their host plants, and their predators and parasitoids, Sam invites us to go beyond the established narratives of bees and butterflies toward a more complete understanding of local biodiversity - and offers guidance for our efforts to protect it.

[@seamlessmusic1834]

Thanks for posting this so quickly. I missed the early part of the presentation, so it's great to be able to revisit it now. And thanks to Pollinator Pathway for fighting the good fight on behalf of our wild world!

[@lindakleinhenz9163]

I too came late to yesterday's picnic, but very much enjoyed catching up with Sam today! Many insights gained from this show-and-tell session. I hope to share these soon with my friends and fellow birders. It's so nice to see the bigger picture; thanks so much for offering this perspective.

[@rebeccal786]

Wow. I learned so much. Thank you.

[@kinglyzard]

Can I add some input and observations about Monarch caterpillars?
I've raised them for many years, and without fail, all form chrysalises with their backs to the light.
Why? And what's with that gold band on the chrysalis?
Well, as the butterflies eclose from their chrysalises, they pivot quickly to face the Sun. They use that gold band as a foothold! Other chrysalises have warts, bumps or are configured so that the butterfly can contact the branch. But Danaus has a smooth surface to its pupa.
They have evolved these gold ridges as a catch for their long claws.

[@kinglyzard]

@14:20
I've encountered these in my garden
@18:30
Trump called. He wants his hairpiece back!! 😅😅😊