Thanks for that link LPC. It is sad though.
We can't (or at least shouldn't!) say "Oh they are just worms and it doesn't matter. We can exploit them. They are the lowest-of-the-low and don't have intelligence or feel anything!"....
....Because my Caterpillar did feel things, and did have intelligence. To watch him seeking a perfect place to pupate and checking out every tiny part of those sticks shows me they are intelligent in their own way. And yes he did feel things. If I moved the top of the container too quickly, he would be scared and curl up into a ball. Then after about 20 minutes, he would uncurl, and look up, and see me (I think...unless he sensed my body heat and presence), and stretch up to investigate. No they're not "just worms".
We can't (or at least shouldn't!) say "Oh they are just worms and it doesn't matter. We can exploit them. They are the lowest-of-the-low and don't have intelligence or feel anything!"....
....Because my Caterpillar did feel things, and did have intelligence. To watch him seeking a perfect place to pupate and checking out every tiny part of those sticks shows me they are intelligent in their own way. And yes he did feel things. If I moved the top of the container too quickly, he would be scared and curl up into a ball. Then after about 20 minutes, he would uncurl, and look up, and see me (I think...unless he sensed my body heat and presence), and stretch up to investigate. No they're not "just worms".