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?”

Her response made me consider two things:
1) It’s nature. Why do we constantly fight nature? Every year, there’s that fight against the dandelions, which somehow became the scourge of the Perfect Lawn. Two weeks later, the dandelions are largely gone. People obsess over their lawns, watering, weeding, spraying, but it’s natural for there to be insects, wildflowers (“weeds”), and variety. For years, my husband tried to pull weeds and over-seed and do all the things for the perfect lawn, but the grass seems to prefer growing in our garden…the one place we DON’T want the grass. I’m not quite ready for a wildflower meadow in my yard like my in-laws, but I see their point. Why fight nature? Forget-me-nots may be weeds, but they’re also beautiful. Thistles are more difficult to defend, but they’re the national flower of Scotland, so they must have good points, right?
 
2) What’s the big deal? Ah, if only we could all say that, so much more often. The caterpillars, unlike mosquitoes, don’t carry disease. They might harm the trees, but even the fully denuded poplars regrow their leaves, sometimes before the end of summer, based on years past. The heat, the cold, the wind, the rain, all the things that are not within our control…what’s the big deal? We live in Canada (how lucky are we?) where there are seasons, and unpredictable weather patterns, and here in Northern Ontario we want to enjoy our summers, which makes sense when it’s cold for so many months, but “there’s no bad weather, just bad clothing.” I’m not a huge fan of camping in the rain, but it seems a small price to pay for this life of peace and abundance. When it comes to caterpillars, this too shall pass.
 
There’s a caterpillar walking toward me on the table (I’m in my backyard) and I considered (in my newly accepting state) befriending it, but nope.
Flicked it. Sorry. I have my limits.