Caterpillars in 'wildflower' lawn

emerb

I let my lawn grow long this year with the hope of it eventually becoming a wildflower lawn. It seems like now it the time to cut it, sow more seeds and plant bulbs. 

However, once I starting cutting (up close with a little shears) I noticed quite a few caterpillars. Am I destroying these guys winter habitat? Or maybe I should just wait a bit longer to cut the grass?

I'm on the verge of acting crazy and transferring them to a nearby field by hand 

Dovefromabove

I wouldn’t move them ... their Mum chose your ‘meadow because  it was the perfect place for her offspring ... she didn’t choose the field. 

I would just leave it a few weeks before cutting the grass ... when the weather cools right down they’ll probably  find the right place to turn into a chrysalis and overwinter. That place may be among the roots of your meadow or it maybe elsewhere. 

emerb

Thanks @Dovefromabove. That's what I was thinking 

Dovefromabove

Great minds think alike @emerb 😉