Isabella Tiger Moth (Wooly Bear Caterpillar)

  • The wooly bear caterpillar may also be known as the wooly bear worm, or the hedgehog caterpillar.

  • The wooly bear caterpillar is black on each end and red or rust colored in the middle.

  • They winter as caterpillars, and pupate in the spring before they become moths, flying from April through September.

  • There is a myth that the width of the caterpillar bands will predict the harshness of the upcoming winter.  Some towns even hold festivals for these caterpillars.

  • They feed on a wide variety of plants.