In 1532, the agricultural community of Stelvio in northern Italy faced a devastating infestation of crop-eating caterpillars. Rather than relying solely on pesticides or spiritual exorcisms, the town took the insects to criminal court. Following medieval European legal traditions regarding vermin trials, the court appointed a legal defense advocate to represent the caterpillars' interests.
The defense argued that the insects were creatures of God fulfilling their natural instinct to feed, and therefore could not be maliciously blamed for seeking survival. Recognizing both the economic plight of the farmers and the natural rights of the pests, the judge issued a detailed verdict: the caterpillars were ordered to evacuate the cultivated fields within fifteen days. However, to ensure fairness, the court designated a specific, safe plot of wild land where they could relocate without interference, even instructing farmers to build bridges over streams so younger or infirm caterpillars could make the journey safely.