: Screencaps of SpongeBob and Patrick's horrified expressions and the butterfly's face remain popular memes for expressing irrational fear or reacting to unexpected changes.
: The extreme close-up of the butterfly (actually a horse-fly in the live-action shot) is cited by many fans as a source of childhood "trauma" or a classic "jump scare" moment in Western animation. [S2E11] Wormy
The story follows SpongeBob and Patrick as they pet-sit for Sandy Cheeks while she is away. They befriend a small green caterpillar named Wormy. However, when Wormy undergoes metamorphosis into a butterfly overnight, the duo—having never seen a butterfly—mistake the creature for a monster that "ate" their friend. Their panicked flight through Bikini Bottom spreads a city-wide riot, leading to the near-destruction of the town before Sandy returns to "capture" the butterfly in a jar. Key Themes and Analysis They befriend a small green caterpillar named Wormy