Critters at Crow's Nest

This attractive saddleback moth caterpillar (Sibine stimulea) showed up in the barnyard garden last month; the Audubon Field Guide to Insects and Spiders notes that the spines are mildy poisonous and will sting. Speaking of stings, this was a banner year for yellow jackets (good for them, bad for us). We had almost an order of magnitude more stings at camp and other programs this summer. No matter how much we dislike them or fear them, they have an important role in flower pollination. And if you've ever seen the Jacques Perrin-directed film "Microcosmos" you'll have a whole new appreciation for them. He also did the film, "Winged Migration"; both are wonderful. We also have had more than the usual number of centipedes in the barn and house this year. If you turn on the light in the barn at night you'd better be prepared to see them. There are also lots of these small, unidentified snails living on the stucco wall outside the tenant house basement door. I'd love to know more about them—if you have any information to share please let me know.