The Woolly Bear (or Pyrrharctia isabella) is a very familiar caterpillar that is often seen this time of year in our area wandering around. They overwinter under the leaf litter and start feeding again in the spring. The one below was crossing the road in front of my house in Orrington today. If you find one on the road and want to save it from passing cars, beware. Some people are sensitive to the caterpillar's bristley hairs (or setae).
You may have heard an old legend about the Woolly Bear predicting the upcoming winter. The legend was that the narrower the orange band is, the colder the winter will be. According to Caterpillars of Eastern North America, the width of the band is quite variable. "At each molt, a portion of the black setae is replaced by orange, and hence the orange band is broadest in the last instar."
You may have heard an old legend about the Woolly Bear predicting the upcoming winter. The legend was that the narrower the orange band is, the colder the winter will be. According to Caterpillars of Eastern North America, the width of the band is quite variable. "At each molt, a portion of the black setae is replaced by orange, and hence the orange band is broadest in the last instar."
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