Strange Nature: The Bone Collector! Plus Updates & Media Recs
Nonya's Nonsense Newsletter for June 5, 2026
HellooooooooBeautiful Soul!!
I have some exciting news :)
Strange Nature
If you followed me when I was on Medium, you might remember my Strange Nature series. I miss doing them so much! I just haven’t had the bandwidth to add more to my plate, but I’ve decided to include them in my newsletter. I’m aiming for once a month, but it will depend a lot on how I’m feeling and what I’ve got on my plate.Jewelry commissions are live!
I’ve been doing custom jewelry anyway, but until now, it has mostly been through text or social media messaging. I now have it officially set up here on my Ko-Fi.
I’ve also updated my Ko-Fi support goal.
My laptop is a refurb that I purchased several years ago, and it’s really struggling, so a new laptop is my goal. You can donate to my goal here :)
Thank you so much for hanging out with me, and I hope you have a great weekend!
In This Issue:
Strange Nature: The Bone Collector!
Meet the Ed Gein of caterpillars! The lineage of this Hawaiian native has been around for at least 6 million years, significantly longer than the island of Oʻahu, which it currently inhabits. This little guy is an excellent example of the strange evolution of many island-dwellers, called “Island Syndrome.”
Decades of fieldwork and over 150 surveys have only yielded 62 individuals, so this guy was already endangered when it was discovered in 2025.
It does not yet have a scientific name, but it is classified under the genus Hyposmocoma. There are over 350 species of moth in this genus, endemic to Hawaii, which includes caterpillars that eat snails and even amphibious caterpillars!
This one takes the cake, though!
What makes it strange and comparable to a serial killer?
It decorates itself with the body parts of insects, which it obtains by stealing from a spider that likely doesn’t know it’s their roommate!
But wait, there’s more!
Their decorating preferences are likely used as camouflage so their arachnidian host doesn’t know they’ve got a little freeloader in their midst.
Only 1.3% of moths and butterflies in the Lepidoptera order are predatory, and that order contains over 200,000 species around the world! The Bone Collector is predatory, a scavenger, and cannibalistic under pressure.
This is the only caterpillar known to cohabitate with spiders.
This “bone collecting” behavior has not been observed in any other insect, anywhere in the world!
They are quite particular when decorating their homes - body parts are carefully measured, rotated, probed, and chewed down to fit perfectly on their portable silk cocoon.
There’s a crab that does the same thing!
Wrapping Up
The Bone Collector is an excellent example of “Island Syndrome” and strange evolutionary shenanigans. This strange little predator is considered critically endangered due to its tiny population and limited habitat.
Read more about the Bone Collector in the source links in the footer below!1
If you would like to support my work, you can do so by:
🗞️ Becoming a free or paid subscriber
✨Purchasing a piece of my Intentional Jewelry
🔮Booking a Reading
☕ Buying me a coffee on Ko-Fi 💙
I Made This 😍😍😍
ICYMI
Media Recs
I’d like to start this section with a little helpful info for books. There are 2 free library apps that I use that you will love - Libby and Palace. Both allow you to borrow audio and ebooks using your library card. In many cases, you can request a card directly from the app :)
Books
The Power Hardcover, by Naomi Alderman, Science Fiction & Fantasy
I found the TV series on Prime and was instantly hooked!
“Teenage girls now have immense physical power: they can cause agonizing pain and even death. And, with this small twist of nature, the world drastically resets.”
Movies & TV
The Companion, Sci-fi & Fantasy Movie on HBO/Max, starring Sophie Thatcher, Jack Quaid, Lukas Gage
I can’t tell you how many times I scrolled right past this one! I’m glad I decided to watch :)
I’ve watched this one a few times - it was an instant favorite!
Music
That’s All For Now, Folks!
Thank you so much for spending some time with me, and I wish you an amazing weekend 🥰🥰🥰
