When I stepped into my yard that morning, I noticed something odd — a long, twisting line stretched across the grass.

At first, I thought it was a rope someone had dropped, but then panic hit: What if it’s a snake?

My pulse quickened as I crept closer, phone in hand, ready to snap a picture just in case.

But when I finally leaned in, my fear turned to pure astonishment. It wasn’t a snake at all — it was a living chain of caterpillars,

nearly 150 of them, crawling in perfect formation, one after another like a moving train. I had never seen anything like it.

They inched forward as if following an unseen leader, completely synchronized. I later learned this is called a “procession”

— a behavior seen in some species like pine or processionary caterpillars. They travel nose-to-tail for protection,

appearing larger and more intimidating to predators. It may also help them find food efficiently and conserve energy, since those in front clear the path.

Watching them vanish slowly into the bushes left me both amazed and curious. Nature, it seems, still hides incredible spectacles — even in your own backyard.