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The blend of fear and curiosity can provoke learning, social interaction, and cultural exchange, as evidenced by the viral spread of her video. Such encounters also foster appreciation for the complexity of ecosystems, even at the scale of a single garden or neighborhood.
The caterpillar’s mimicry can also be viewed as a lesson in perspective. What appears to be a threatening creature at first glance—a snake with potentially lethal venom—is, in reality, a harmless and vulnerable insect.