misc

[mellowtigger]

garden:  I picked two strawberries this morning.  They were much tastier than anything I buy at the store.

caterpillars:  One of the local newspapers had an article about the current caterpillar bloom.  "The last major outbreak was in 2000-2002."

rabbit:  Chive bunny is still here this morning in the usual spot in my chive-strawberry-thyme patch.

Comments

[dangerdhotrod]

I remember being little living in the country we had a huge apple tree and there were tent caterpillar nests in it. My dad was using a flamethrower on the nests from a ladder and millions of worms were coming out of the nest on silk threads. It was gross and cool at the same time.

[mellowtigger]

These critters could be such a great source of food. Imagine them battered and deep fried. I can't tell, though, if they are edible.

Searching for recipes just produces foods that look like caterpillars. Searching for poison just produces the revelation that their pupa secretion is irritating. I did find, though, that they are an abortifacient for horses, causing mare reproductive loss syndrome.

What the point of being at the top of the food chain if the pests aren't edible? My omnivore heritage is lacking. (I bet a possum could eat them. They digest anything.)

[foeclan]

Animals (and children) may react adversely if caterpillars are eaten (eating tent caterpillars is not recommended).

(I just directly asked on google 'Are tent caterpillars edible' and that was like the 4th or 5th link)

[mellowtigger]

I started with a plant I bought. Everything else has pretty much grown from it by runners. I can easily transplant some to your place if you'd like some starts.

I also planted some seeds last year for some "yellow strawberries". They look large enough this year to actually produce some fruit.

[moofedct]

How did the caterpillar taste? Better than what you can buy at the store?

[mellowtigger]

Lime!

If only. :(

[mellowtigger]

Yep, same one. Although I haven't spotted it anywhere since the photo. I'm sure it'll show up again soon. (Until the neighbors (and cats) return anyway.)