The hairs are irritant and protect it from predators, such as birds be. Many variables may contribute to changes in the caterpillar’s coloration, including larval stage, food availability, the temperature or moisture during their development, age, and even species. Its brown and black, exceedingly hairy caterpillar is often called a woolly bear. Woolly worms appear in early fall, when they feast on common plants, and emerge in spring from the pupa stage as moths. However, today’s entomologists say no one has been able to replicate the study.Ĭurrent insect experts agree that woolly bear caterpillars are not accurate predictors of winter weather. The fuzzy brown and black creature commonly called the woolly worm or woolly bear is the larval form of the tiger moth ( Isia isabella ). When the eggs hatch, the small worms feed upon the leaf. In their life cycle, the moth lays hundreds of eggs on leaves of the broad leaf plantain. His studies showed that the woolly bear caterpillars had an 80 percent accuracy rate. The wooly bear or wooly worm is the larval stage of the Isabella Tiger Moth ( Isia isabella or Pyrrhactia isabella ). Curran, former curator of insects at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, surveyed the bugs back in the 1950s. There has actually been some research pertaining to this old wives’ tale. Dr. If there is a lot of brown, the winter will be mild If there is only a narrow strip of brown on their backs, expect a harsh winter.

The old tale goes like this: the thickness of the brown stripe on the caterpillar will tell you how harsh the upcoming winter will be. One of the most widespread tales pertains to the big furry coat of the woolly bear caterpillar.

Download brown wooly worm