caterpillars

Right now, our city is infested with caterpillars.
It’s Northern Ontario, and it’s June, so there are always black flies and mosquitoes at this time of year. Now, we have to add caterpillars?
For a while, they were hanging from the trees on cobweb-like strands, and we had to dodge them when cycling or running. They took over the deciduous trees in our yard, and their droppings are covering our deck (who knew caterpillars generated so much poop?). In the last few days, predictably, there are cocoons forming in every windowpane and doorframe, after which I guess we’ll have a lot of moths around. Wherever I go, in addition to “hot enough for you?”—which briefly replaces “cold enough for you?” at this time of year—people are talking about the caterpillars. Spraying trees, pesticides vs garlic concoctions, foil around trunks. My one neighbour just laughed and said “It’s nature. What’s the big deal?”

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