Woolly Bear
Pyrrharctia isabellaAlso known as Banded Woolly Bear, Woolly Worm, Isabella Tiger Moth
Banded woolly bears are famous for their dense, bristly coats of black and rust-orange bands, which change proportion as the caterpillars age and molt. These resilient larvae spend the autumn searching for sheltered wintering spots under logs or leaf litter, where they literally freeze solid during the coldest months before thawing in spring to pupate. The adult Isabella tiger moth is a modest, pale yellow-orange moth with small black spots on its wings and abdomen.
- diet
- Generalist herbivore feeding on low-growing plants like dandelion, plantain, clover, and grasses
- family
- Erebidae
- threats
- Habitat loss, pesticide use, and vehicle collisions during autumn migrations
- life Span
- 1 year (including winter diapause)
NE
Stiff hairs can cause mild skin irritation in sensitive individuals; handle gently or observe without touching.
The stiff, bristly hairs do not inject venom but can cause mechanical skin irritation, itching, or mild hives in sensitive individuals.
Observe them without picking them up, or use a leaf to gently move them off busy pathways.- Autumn Spotting: Look for them crossing roads and sidewalks on sunny autumn afternoons as they search for winter shelter.
- Gentle Handling: If you pick one up, let it curl into its defensive ball in your open palm to avoid breaking its stiff hairs.
- Spring Watching: Keep an eye out in early spring for active caterpillars waking up to feed briefly before spinning cocoons.