Woolly Bear Caterpillar (Isabella Tiger Moth larva) (Pyrrharctia isabella)
I photographed this woolly bear caterpillar on September 18, 2011 as it crawled down the road up back of the house. I had seen a couple of others here and there and they all looked like this: a broad red-brown stripe between two short black stripes. I knew immediately that we would have a mile winter. How? Here is a quote from the Old Farmer's Almanac:
According to legend, the wider that middle brown section is (i.e., the more brown segments there are), the milder the coming winter will be. Conversely, a narrow brown band is said to predict a harsh winter.
_/\_/\_
Gosh. I remember furry catapillars from my youth when I fearlessly allow them to creep along my finger. I would gently them and then set them back on a leaf low to the ground.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't do it today. There is something about the creeping crawling feeling that gives me the (not good) shivers.
Know what, Annie? That is most likely the best thing you could do! From what I read, fuzzy caterpillars can be toxic. Some are even irritating if you touch them. So keep on doing what you're doing! And thank you for dropping in!
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