The Extraordinary Caterpillar

Over 98% of the living world on Earth is smaller than a bee. Yet humans view the planet as a world centered around themselves. Landscapes are deconstructed to suit human needs, often with little regard for the natural systems that sustain the food web. The Extraordinary Caterpillar follows the scientists and community activists with this peek into the dazzling world of nature’s tiniest superheroes.

To reveal the inner workings of our planet’s foundational food web, naturalist Sam Jaffe from The Caterpillar Lab uses dazzling macro-videography to magnify tiny, fantastical, anime-like creatures – caterpillars! Sam’s images reveal a weird and wonderful world beyond imagination of behavior, form, and function that will inspire people to take a second look at the hidden world happening in their own yard.

A poor understanding of biodiversity and native species has allowed for unchecked harm to be done to the natural world. Entomologist Doug Tallamy co-founded the Homegrown National Park movement to restore the ecosystems that provide habitats, clean air, and water. As Tallamy explains, caterpillars are essential to the food web: a single chickadee nest requires six to nine thousand caterpillars to survive their first two weeks of life. Even grizzly bears rely on caterpillars to fatten up for winter.

On a quest to document thousands of caterpillars – many never seen or photographed before – entomologist David Wagner hopes to record them as global insect populations have dropped by 45% since 1970. As he completes his latest book, The Caterpillars of Western North America, Wagner has seen firsthand the devastation of caterpillar populations.

In Toronto, a group of youth walk through a patch of urban forest, encouraged to take a closer look at their environment. They are a part of EcoSpark’s mission to connect people of all ages with the living world. Hands-on experience helps them understand the importance of biodiversity, especially the keystone plants that help caterpillars to survive and thrive.

Toronto gardener Amanda McConnell demonstrates how private and public spaces can become thriving caterpillar habitats. For nearly four decades, Amanda has transformed her neighbourhood in The Annex into a treed and planted community. Her work shows how habitat restoration can begin in backyards,back lanes, community spaces and city parks.

Helping to understand the secret world of caterpillars and their ecosystems are research coordinator Jack Forrester from The Caterpillar Lab, entomology technician Antonia Guidotti from the Royal Ontario Museum, botanist and naturalist Laura Reeves, and horticulturalist Andrea F. Stauber.

From suburbia to exurban meadows, abandoned lots to city parks, The Extraordinary Caterpillar shows that exploring our environment begins not in distant wilderness, but right outside our doors!

‍