This afternoon we found an enormous green caterpillar inching its way across our back deck. It was probably close to 6 inches long and hugely fat. I had just put AJ down for a nap, so I captured it in an empty plastic strawberry box so I could show him and then let him go.

When AJ got up, he came down to look at it and then we took it over to show The Girl Next Door and her brother. The children were all very excited. �Holy Cow!� exclaimed TGND�s brother. �That�s the biggest caterpillar I�ve ever seen. What are you going to name it?�

AJ hadn�t considered the name issue. I jumped in. �We�re not going to name it. We�re going to let him go.� I put the container on the grass, opened the lid, and attempted to persuade the caterpillar to jump out onto the grass. He was hanging onto the side of the container. It was then that I saw some white fibers stretched along his side. He was spinning a cocoon.

�Wow, cool! You should keep him!�

And while I have misgivings about borrowing small creatures from nature for our science experiments, we did elect to hold onto the caterpillar.

�I guess we�ll keep him. How can we make him comfortable?�

The kids were full of ideas. AJ and TGND picked some grass and put it in. TGND�s brother plucked some leaves from nearby shrubs. They all searched for the perfect stick for him to climb on. We wondered about water and TGND�s brother suggested we spray him with water once a day so he doesn�t get dehydrated.

�But we still need a name.� We all had to go, at that point. TGND & her brother were called to their car to head to the yoga studio. AJ and I were to meet them all there a little later. We brought the caterpillar inside and AJ took him up to his room. I went to round up a few supplies for our evening out.

�Mommy, the caterpillar�s making a noise.�
�What kind of noise?�
�I don�t know.�
�Is it a rustling noise?�
�Yes. Come see.�

The caterpillar had unmoored himself and was devouring the blades of grass with his powerful jaws. I could hear him crunching from the other side of the room.

�He�s eating, AJ.�
�Wow.�

We watched him until we had to go. The kids had a powwow at the yoga studio and decided to name him Glowworm.

Later, when we returned home, I did some digging around the web for caterpillar identification and discovered that Glowworm is preparing to turn into a Polyphemus Moth, a relative of both the silkworm and the Luna moth. Polyphemus moths are very beautiful and very large � not quite as large as a Luna, but with a wingspan of 5-6 inches. Unfortunately, he is supposed to hibernate until May, so we may wait until he�s a cocoon and then put him out on the porch for the winter so that he�s protected and we can see him, but he won�t be confused by heating and air conditioning.

Meanwhile, he remains a source of fascination to both AJ and I. We can�t seem to stop watching him. AJ did, however, finally admit that Glowworm needed to sleep somewhere besides his room. �He�s too noisy. He�s keeping me awake.�

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