http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_tent_caterpillar

Samedh and I were in the back yard on bunny patrol tonight (a frisky pair has been frolicking in the yard all day long) when we stumbled upon a little caterpillar in the grass. We coaxed it onto a stick and Samedh observed it close-up, even daring to touch its soft hairy back. After a while we let it go, back onto a similar blade of grass in our yard. Within one foot, we immediately saw another one. Samedh was so excited and suggested that these little guys will eventually turn into beautiful butterflies. I wasn't so sure, but told him we'd search the Internet to read more about this kind. Well, here is what we found out: Eastern Tent Caterpillar (see link above). They can do quite a bit of damage, so if we find more in our yard we'll be sure to direct them elsewhere. But all in all, it was a good learning experience. Every little bit of nature Samedh can experience up close is a treasure. Tomorrow's nature experience will surely start with bunny patrol again, but we'll be on the look-out for our caterpillar friends again as well.