🐛 CONFESSION: I ACCIDENTALLY KIDNAPPED A CATERPILLAR.

🐛 CONFESSION: I ACCIDENTALLY KIDNAPPED A CATERPILLAR.

While sorting through the linden I’d gathered, I discovered a tiny stowaway: a bright-green lime hawk-moth caterpillar, complete with pale stripes and a very dramatic blue tail horn.

The “lime” in its name means the lime tree — another name for linden — not the citrus fruit.

So he’d chosen exactly the right buffet…and I’d accidentally taken the diner home with his dinner. 😂

I kept him safe overnight, then returned him to the same linden tree while I was out dropping off a customer’s parcel.

One parcel delivered. One caterpillar delivered.

Hand-foraging means entering somebody else’s habitat. I check everything carefully, but nature is incredibly good at camouflage — and occasionally a little resident sneaks through.

When that happens, they go home. 💚

The caterpillar is safely back where he belongs, and the kidnapping charges have officially been dropped.

#GuineaGourmetTreats #LimeHawkMoth #WildlifeEncounter #ResponsibleForaging #BehindTheLeaves