@futurebird Ah but it gets even more amazing - sometimes they build, I kid you not, log cabins...

@futurebird Ah but it gets even more amazing - sometimes they build, I kid you not, log cabins...
@futurebird Fun fact that inspired me to write it - the bagworm caterpillar makes an actual pagoda out leaves and silk.
@futurebird Me too! Just after I started it The Bees by Laline Paull came out - must've been something in the air. It was my first short story in print, in this collection, but looks like there's only one physical copy left, though there is a Kindle edition (sorry for Amazon, only place that has it). I could send you the PDF proof if you'd rather, but these days I'm afraid of LLMs, but that's silly, we must still share our work - and I would love to read more of yours.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mechanics-Institute-Review-2017-Stories/dp/0957583389
@futurebird This is brilliant! Especially love "the Hour of the Wasp." I wrote something similar in 2015 but about caterpillars in the rainforests of China. You have a Provost, I have the Magistrate. And there's also a mantis, but not so friendly!