The longer the woolly bear's black bands, the longer, colder, snowier, and more severe the winter will be. The Woolly Bear ( Pyrrharctia isabella) Caterpillar is found across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.Īccording to folklore, the amount of black on the woolly bear in autumn varies proportionately with the severity of the coming winter in the locality where the caterpillar is found.
Whatever name they go by, they are often found in the autumn after they have left their food plants (variety of grasses and weeds including plantain, dandelion, and nettles) in search of a dark and sheltered spot where they can hibernate as larvae for the winter. Yet another name for this caterpillar is the Hedgehog Caterpillar, because it curls into a tight bristly ball and “plays dead” when picked up or disturbed. This same caterpillar is called the woolly worm in southern United States. Most people in the Midwest or New England have heard at one time or another that if you want a forecast for the upcoming winter that you should just look for a woolly bear (black at both ends and a reddish brown or rust colored in the middle) or fuzzy bear caterpillar. Woolly Bear Caterpillar: A Winter Weather Predictor or Not?
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