Why, do you think, are butterflies exalted and moths just tolerated? Indeed, butterflies come in majestic colours and gracefully dance on flower tips while moths are a dull brown or grey and tend to fly annoyingly around a light source. I love watching the butterflies in my garden, and feel quite privileged when a particularly beautiful one settles near me and keeps me company. But moths - not so much.
I have been watching the clivia plants near my washing line. Some of the leaves are rich breeding grounds for worms. They (the worms!) are stripey and obviously very hungry. Unlike other caterpillars, these seem to suck the moisture out of the leaves, which look withered and discoloured. But they don't actually eat the plant flesh. I was wondering what to do. Instinctively, I thought of picking them off and sending them to a unpleasant end.
.jpg)
But I stopped to remind myself how much I like the next stage of their life cycle as butterflies. So I took a judgement call that we could sacrifice some clivia leaves for a beautiful future. I do need to keep an eye on the situation though, because too many worms will destroy all the plants, and that isn't eco-friendly either. The masses of orange flowers delight me as much as the wild life in the garden. It is, as usual , all about balance. I hope I have judged the ratio of worms to leaves correctly.
Nothing other than hope is informing my judgement either - these worms could turn into those dull moths for all I know. I had to look up the difference between the species too. The main difference seems to be how the wings fold and unfold. And the whole daytime versus night time thing. Moths are not brightly coloured, but muted and dreary.
I am finding writing difficult at the moment. This blog is an exercise in the the Just Do It philosophy, because writing is really important to me, and silencing myself feels a bit like the leaves that have had the life sucked out of them : Wilted, and on a one way trip to the compost heap. But maybe, if I live with the unwordiness I am feeling now, some of those worms will turn into butterflies, and some light, attractive thoughts will land on my paper. To be honest, I would be just as happy if they turned into moths. Dull and steadfast is just as good for me.
The beauty of a creature is about perspective isn't it. Moths and butterflies are both exquisite complicated insects intricately formed, and as lovely as each other. Worms and caterpillars too for that matter. We all start somewhere until we evolve to whoever we want to be.
Here's hoping my pupa stage doesn't last too long.
