![]() ![]() These bristles, which are black at the ends and reddish brown at the center, have a fuzzy appearance. Woolly bears are caterpillars of the Isabella Tiger moth. After the final instar, the caterpillar spins a cocoon and undergoes metamorphosis into an adult Isabella Tiger Moth. The fourth and final instar is when the caterpillar is mostly rusty brown with a black band near the head and tail. The first three instars are when the caterpillar is black with rusty brown bands. The wooly bear caterpillar goes through four stages of growth, or instars. They can grow to be about 2.5 inches long. The caterpillars are black with rusty brown bands. The adult moths are yellow-orange with black stripes and spots and have a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. The caterpillars are also sometimes called “banded woolly worms.” Wooly bears are the caterpillars of the Isabella Tiger Moth. The more black there is, the harsher the winter will be. The most popular belief is that the amount of black on a wooly bear caterpillar predicts the severity of the upcoming winter. They are also one of the few caterpillars that have their own folklore associated with them. My soulful twin, Bill, had an affinity for turtles.The wooly bear caterpillar is one of the most recognizable and iconic caterpillars in North America. He quickly roused and raced to the water finding shelter under a heart-shaped stone. I carried him to the brook running beneath the road. The little guy was sluggish, perhaps dehydrated. Recently I came across a baby snapping turtle. I’ve helped more than the furry cross the road, though. They say worms take advantage of wetness, which allows them to move far more quickly than through the soil. Partly because so many slithery critters seemed daunting, but mostly because of the slime factor versus cute and fuzzy. I feel bad not helping the furry fellas, though.Ī few weeks ago, dozens of worms took to the road during a rainy spell. ![]() ( Here’s a link to a previous column on the subject). The thing is, they can cause a nasty rash that may require medical attention. They are adorable, with longish spikes of fur jutting beyond their white coat, fashioning a row of black spots. I’ve come across other critters roadside, such as the white fuzzy Hickory Tussock caterpillars ( Lophocampa caryae) that I didn’t help cross the road. Admittedly there’s a contradiction about my kindness in helping woolly bears. ![]()
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