Join Massachusetts Pollinator Network for a presentation revealing the caterpillars whose ecosystems we inhabit and our role as neighbors, stewards, and champions of these incredible insects. We live surrounded by a world shaped by insects and few are more charismatic than the caterpillar (or their moth and butterfly forms). They influence the flowers we enjoy, foods we eat, and birds we celebrate, filling every ecological niche imaginable! This interactive presentation features a few local, wild fall caterpillars who will help us tell the story of these animals in our forests and gardens. Educators from The Caterpillar Lab will share how we can manage our spaces through the fall and winter to promote more insect diversity and offer some tips and tricks for measuring our success in the spring. Attend this fall talk to learn how to promote more caterpillars, and then extend your experience by joining us next spring for a special Grow Native Massachusetts event (check back for details) to discover how to see the adult moths in their nighttime habitats!

The Caterpillar Lab fosters greater appreciation and care for the complexity and beauty of our local natural history through live caterpillar educational programs, research initiatives, and photography and film projects. We believe that an increased awareness of one’s local environment is the foundation on which healthy and responsible attitudes towards the broader natural systems of this world are built.

Photo credit Sam Jaffe