It's that time of year again when we see those little woolly worms crawling across sidewalks and through the yard. According to some people, the black and brown/orange stripes on the backs of these little critters can help predict how severe our winter will be.
First, a word on the woolly worm itself. While most call them "woolly worms" or "woolly bear", they are actually caterpillars and the journey these creatures take over the span of a few months is remarkable.
The caterpillars emerge from their eggs in fall, and overwinters by literally freezing solid. When warmer weather arrives in spring, the caterpillars pupate and turn into moths.
On to their potential weather predicting abilities, folklore holds that the thicker the brown/orange stripe on the woolly worm, the milder our weather will be. So if you are looking for a milder than average winter, you'll want to be on the lookout for a woolly worm like the one here on the left.
However, if you find a woolly worm crawling across your path that has more black than brown you may want to go ahead and plan for a cold, snowy winter!
Scientists agree that the coloration of woolly worms varies and is dependant on several factors like their larval stage, food availability, temperature, moisture, and species. While they may or may not be accurate predictors of winter weather, it's still fun to keep track of and discuss, so as you spot woolly worms in your yard this fall, be sure to let us know what you are seeing!
The sad truth behind the woolly worms band length actually has more to do with its age than with predicting the weather. As the caterpillar prepares to overwinter, it molts, becoming less black and more reddish-brown as it ages. Woolly worms overwinter from September to May and are commonly found along nature trails and wooded edges and crossing sidewalks and roadways seeking overwintering sites.
I live in Texas, in the country just north of Fort Worth. I've had a black wooly worm on my concrete patio for at least 2 weeks - we were not home during the XMAS holidays, and I didn't noticed it before. I tried to pick it up with my fingers - impossible, so I left it alone. I turned it over with a small stick to make sure it was not some kind of tree vegi. And sure enough, it has a leggy bottom. The last 2 weeks have been cool - 33-50 F. It has stayed on the patio, within 10 feet of where I first saw it, maybe 10 feet from nearest dormant lawn. Should I place it on something more veggie, less exposed to rain / snow? What should I expect to see?
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