I Think It's A Silly Reason
I've been a plantita for quite some time now, and whenever I see a caterpillar on my plants' leaves, I always jump for joy!
Those cutie caterpillars, even if they eat a lot of my plants' leaves are wonderful creatures.
Imagine, your plant becomes a part of the caterpillars growth, that will soon become a lovely butterfly! Ahh, that's a privilege!
But not everyone's happy to see a caterpillar on their plants' leaves.
There's this thing that I can't help but to react on negatively. While I was taking a break and scrolling through my Facebook feed, I chanced upon a post of someone asking for an advice on how to kill some caterpillars.
Really? Kill?
That question alone made me raise my eyebrow. Why would someone want to kill caterpillars?
Well, I admit, we killed some caterpillars when I was in high school because of an insecticide/pesticide experiment that we're working on. We're competing for a research project and we need to test whether our insecticide/pesticide was effective. It's heartbreaking to see those caterpillars die in front of us.
Although, I am with the farmers who really wants to get rid of those caterpillars because it might destroy their business.
Back to the Facebook post, I didn't screenshot the picture of her plant because I don't have her permission to post it here. Her plant was almost leafless.
She was asking for ways on how to kill those caterpillars who keep on eating her plant's leaves. Apparently, there are several caterpillars who are eating the leaves and somehow made her plant looked as if it is dead because of the eaten leaves. She was more concerned on her plants' physical image because it's infront of her residence and it's the first thing the people would notice when they walk through.
A lot of people commented. Most of the comments are negative. Well, I do agree with their reasoning.
That's why when I encountered that post, my first reaction is it's a silly reason to kill caterpillars, although I get her point that it destroys the image of her plant.
Caterpillars play an important role in the ecosystem. Even if they're eating your plants' leaves, let them do that. Leaves will eventually grow back in time.
Or, if you really can't take it, at least transfer them in other places where they could still eat leaves, grow, then become a wonderful butterfly, without destroying your plants.
Caterpillars are living things too. Remember that when you kill one, you're also taking away the life of a soon to be beautiful butterfly.
How about you, what do you do to the caterpillars that you encounter on your plants? Do you kill them? Or do you let them eat your plants' leaves?
August 3, 2022
Caterpillars are really lovely though they are the destructive stage of butterfly. I don't think it's wise for us to kill it, because if they are no caterpillars then they won't be any butterflies and our plants won't be pollinated anymore