Wildlife Wednesday: Woolly Bear

Woolly bear!

This is the Isabella tiger moth caterpillar (Pyrrharctia isabella), more commonly known as the woolly bear! According to folklore, the ratios of its brown and black bands can predict the severity of the upcoming winter. Finding a caterpillar with a wider brown band signals a milder winter, while one with larger black bands points to a harsher season. Additionally, if more black appears near the head, the winter's start will be rougher than its end, and vice versa.

In reality, these band patterns are simply a result of natural variation, age, and number of times the caterpillar has molted over the summer. Unfortunately, no mystical winter weather prediction powers here, just a cute friend!