Because of Florida's mild climate and diversity of plants, caterpillars thrive in abundance in the state. Florida's butterfly fauna consist of temperate species from eastern North America, tropical species from the Caribbean region (including 11 species of exotics that have become established over the last 100 years), and unique races that are found nowhere else.
For everyone who has wondered what to do about the caterpillars they find munching on a beloved plant, the authors offer this advice: "Watch them." Their value in the ecosystem is immense, as they provide vital links in food webs and help to naturally prune their hosts. And they reveal the miracle of metamorphosis, as the worm-like larvae transform into beautiful winged adults.
