Beijing Wildlife Park hosts caterpillar hunt to combat invasive species

During China’s Golden Week holiday, visitors to Beijing Wildlife Park engaged in an unusual activity: hunting for fall webworm larvae, an invasive caterpillar species nicknamed the “forest food monster.” The park organized a competition, offering prizes like park tickets to those who collected the heaviest haul of caterpillars.

Participants were given disposable gloves, plastic containers, and chopsticks to gather the larvae across the park’s 550-acre expanse. Since the competition began on September 28, over 2,000 people have caught more than 310,000 caterpillars, totaling 47.65 kg (105.05 lbs). The fall webworm, native to North America, poses a threat to over 300 plant species, including crops and fruit trees.

Beijing is currently facing peak damage from the third generation of larvae this year, according to China’s Xinhua news agency. One participant, a 35-year-old named Cui, noted the activity’s educational value, saying it sparked children’s interest while offering a chance to win prizes.