Kassandra suggested: maybe the white witch does not want to be found - the mystery keeps people from finding the caterpillars. That is an interesting idea. Should I try to find the caterpillars, or should I just let it be a mystery?
Many students suggested that I should get a female moth and get her to lay eggs. That is exactly my plan. If we get eggs, and they hatch, what can we feed the caterpillars? That is a big question.
Here is another question: I will be looking at the Cassia plants that black witches and owl moth caterpillars eat. Since they are related to the white witch, there is a good chance that white witch caterpillars also eat Cassia. What if I find some unknown caterpillars crawling on Cassia leaves. How will I know that they are white witches if no one knows what the caterpillars look like?
I told many students how the white witch got its name. But many of Ms. Vignone's students had their own ideas about why we call the moth a "white witch." I love their stories.
I have been especially excited by the work that Ms. Carter's students are doing on rainforest science. They know a few things about sampling: pitfall traps, sweep nets, and plant sample preparation. They know why Meg Lowman is so excited by research. I am not as great of a scientist, but like her, I think it is all really cool: lianas, ants, spiders and bromeliads. And of course monkeys and alligators.
If you have questions, or more ideas for me, you can comment on this blog post. I will answer as soon as I can.