I hope this is not an insult to the caterpillars. (“You talkin’ to me woman?”)
They are named for their yellow necks, Yellow-necked caterpillars(Datana ministra)
They appear every year on the same little oak.
I notice because the leaves disappear due to skeletonization. Which is a fancy way of saying everything is eaten but the veins.
I purposely disturb them just to watch them twitch. They go into defense posture.
The adult moth is called the Yellow-necked Caterpillar Moth. Ho Hum!
It looks like a rolled brown leaf with a scalloped end. I have never seen one in person.
The poor moth can’t live down its baby nickname. Kind of like “Stinky” or “Tootie.”
Flower
floweralley 
Marvellous photograph
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Ha! I have just come indoors from admiring our new silver birch tree. I noticed a single leaf had been nibbled and on the leaf next door were 4 tiny green caterpillars ranged along on edge of the leaf. I touched the other edge…. 4 angry caterpillars reared up as one. I chose to leave them on their leaf. Maybe I should check on them early tomorrow though… This tree was a special gift; I can’t afford for the babies to eat the lot!
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There is always something to discover in nature.
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Love the way you describe some of nature’s creatures. Must laugh – because you seem to be enjoying yourself very much. Stinky and Tootie are quite funny. Looks like fun disturbing these creatures that eat your plants. Ho-Hum on the names for sure. Ha Ha
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I am a former 8th grade science teacher. I taught college also, but those seven years of 8th grade changed how I think.
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Yes, 8th graders could be a challenge.
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I learned to be brief and funny. Maybe crazy, too.
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Was a school secretary on the Navajo Indian reservation for almost 2 decades. Without a sense of humor you cannot survive working with children. My favorite age group was 6th graders.
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Wow. I bet that was interesting work. You should write a book.
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Yes, I guess I should write a book about my experience on the reservation. Have only written one book that I publishes – about caring for my brother who had dementia. Have written 3 books that I hope to publish someday.
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Oh my! I am impressed. Please tell me the title of your published book. I want to read it.
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I found it and ordered it. I wish you could help me publish my book. I cannot seem to move forward. It is about my daughter’s years with epilepsy. Our blog is seizuremamaandrose.org.
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My daughter and granddaughter helped me publish my book on Amazon Kindle. It cost nothing – Amazon just takes a percentage of the sales. You need to find a friend in your area – smarter than I am at technology to publish your book. Will check out your blog on epilepsy. So sorry your daughter has that problem.
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She is a champ. I think she may have super powers. Ha
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Yes – perhaps she is supergirl.
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Let’s not tell her. She is brave enough all ready!
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That is a lot of caterpillars.
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A group of caterpillars is called an army. I think that is strange.
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I did not know that.
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Nice discovery and nicely photographed!
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Thank you Pete.
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