Extraordinary Nature: The Caterpillar opens a door to the wild and wonderful world of the humble superhero of biodiversity – the caterpillar. This family-friendly film enchants audiences with an introduction to not only a variety of weird and wonderful-looking caterpillars but also the scientists, caterpillar enthusiasts, environmentalists, naturalists, and citizens, young and old, who study, document, and protect caterpillars in our world. The film debunks myths and misconceptions, showing that caterpillars are not just destructive forces to be feared. So-called infestations are natural occurrences, and caterpillars play a crucial role in the “web of life.” They are a valuable food source for many creatures, standing at the centre of our planet’s terrestrial food web and transferring more plant energy to birds, reptiles, and mammals than any other plant eater. For example, a single nest of chickadees requires six to nine thousand caterpillars to survive their first two weeks of life –and even grizzly bears rely on caterpillars to fatten up for winter!
But caterpillars face serious threats from habitat loss, climate change, and misplaced fear. If caterpillars were to disappear, the food web could collapse. However, these little marvels, known as Lepidoptera in scientific terms, have dedicated supporters. Spanning from the desert vistas of the U.S. Southwest and the Canadian prairies to bustling urban areas, the film takes viewers on a fun and illuminating journey, showcasing rarely seen macro video images of caterpillars. Audiences will be astonished by the limitless variety of colours, shapes, and incredible mimicry. The unexpected beauty, mind-boggling sci-fi-like transformations, and ‘magnified’ details reveal caterpillars as they have never been seen before.
Extraordinary Nature: The Caterpillar is a captivating combination of positive, accessible actions for biodiversity conservation and an unusual insight into these awe-inspiring, magical, and often bizarre creatures. While we often think that ‘big’ is important, this film shows that ‘small’ can be truly extraordinary!
Photo credits (Caterpillars on black background): Sam Jaffe
1 hour
2025
