There is an established Crepe Myrtle just outside the front door of the building that I work in.

About a year ago I noticed something very odd occasionally when I’d walk by it: I’d feel a slight tingle on my skin. A wetness.

Like timid sprinkles before it begins to rain.

When I first noticed it, I didn’t think much of it. I’d look up at the sky, see that there wasn’t a peep of white in the sky, and think it was odd but go on with my day all the same. Initially I didn’t even relate it with the Myrtle in my mind. Eventually, I tied the experience down to the general location of the tree.

After a while though the odd occurences of feeling that wet sprinkle on my skin made me wonder what the hell was going on. Last Friday it happened again as I walked past the tree and remarked to a friend “Oi, I think that tree just spat on me!” “Yeah, I’ve noticed that too.”

Now this was strange, but relieving at the same time. I wasn’t going mad after all unless this was a shared hallucination. I questioned him about it and he confirmed my own experiences. He came up with the unsatisfactory explanation that perhaps it was some sort of sap, or condensation blowing off the leaves.

But I was not prepared to accept that. Now that someone confirmed that the tree was indeed spitting, I needed to find out how and why. So yesterday I took a closer look.

I was stunned by what I discovered.

That Crepe Myrtle is crawling with caterpillars and they are the ones that are actually doing the spitting… whenever you get close to the tree.

Spitting Caterpillars!!

Unbelieveable. Who ever heard of spitting caterpillars who defiantly defend their territory like that?