It happened on an ordinary afternoon while I was walking through my backyard. I was halfway across the lawn when something unusual caught my eye. At first glance, it looked like a coiled rope resting in the grass. But something about it felt off. I paused, squinting against the sunlight, a tingle of curiosity—and a touch of unease—rising in my chest.
I stepped closer, holding my phone in hand just in case it turned out to be something photo-worthy. My heart beat a little faster with each step, unsure of what I was approaching. As I got close enough to see clearly, I let out a quiet gasp. It wasn’t a rope. It wasn’t even a snake, which had been my initial fear.
It was a long, winding trail of caterpillars. Not just a handful—there were easily over a hundred of them, crawling in a perfectly straight line across the yard. They moved in sync, like tiny travelers on a purposeful journey, each one following the other with remarkable precision. It was a sight unlike anything I’d ever seen.
Later, I did some research and learned this behavior is called “caterpillar procession.” Some species of caterpillars form these long lines as a natural survival strategy, helping them conserve energy, avoid predators, or stay on track while foraging. It was fascinating—and oddly beautiful—to witness such coordination in nature, right there in my backyard.
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