I had ambitions of finding birds to photograph on Sept. 20 but it was soon apparent that I needed to look down and watch my step. – Colleen Bovaird, Hampton There are more than 1,700 species of butterflies and moths in the Maritime region, each with a unique caterpillar. The black and red species pictured here is the familiar wooly bear, the caterpillar of the Isabella tiger moth. Local lore states that one can gauge the severity of the coming winter by the relative proportions of red and black on this species (the more black the harder the winter), which is most frequently seen in late summer or fall as it wanders about looking for an over-wintering site. Like many caterpillars that over-winter, this species manufactures a natural anti-freeze and can survive temperatures far below freezing. The other two caterpillars are both species of dagger moths. The yellow caterpillar is the American dagger moth and the brown one is the fingered dagger moth. Both species feed on various hardwoods, while the wooly bear feeds on various low growing herbaceous or shrubby plants (including dandelion and lettuce). – Don McAlpine