A frog and Zebra Caterpillars

While walking around the gardens with Jeannie, we noticed the Bindweed was back in full force, even after all her work at cutting so much of it out earlier in the season. We spied a small lump on a Bindweed leaf. It was a little frog, so very tiny, just basking in the sun.



SO, later in the day, when the grandkids were here, we checked out the spot and guess, what? It was still there! The kids were so excited to find this tiny frog. As they are both very used to all things nature around here, Ryan easily picked up the frog and immediately went to get a pail to put it into so it wouldn't jump away.




He very carefully picked it up and was amazed at how tiny it was. He could hold it on one finger!



Katelyn even gave holding it a try, but needed help keeping it there as it kept wanting to jump off her jittery hand!


Ryan got a leaf for it and insisted we get a picture of it inside the pail to show everyone how happy it was in there! (by the way, the pail is red)




On another jaunt in the gardens I noticed my Red twig Dogwood bush had holes in a lot of the leaves. Upon closer inspection I discovered these caterpillars enjoying a feast all over the bush.



These are Zebra Caterpillars, Veramica picta. They show up throughout North America. They love many garden vebgetables and orchard crops, and obviously my Dogwood. They chew the foliage but as they rarly do serious damage, with controls not necessary, I decide to leave them to their meal and just enjoy their colors and curling positions.



Isn't it interesting how they clump together in a tight family group? Other species are definitely loner types.



As to insects, it is an individual preference as to how to deal with them. Some are beneficial, others harmful/destructive and then there are some that are in between. It is up to each person to decide which to deal with and which to just sit back and enjoy.