However, research has been done to debunk this myth. Or, if the worms are mostly brown, the winter will be mild. What about its ability to forecast the upcoming winter weather? Folklore suggests that the 13 segments of the caterpillar represent the 13 weeks of winter, and when more black segments are present, we can expect a harsher winter. Commonly seen during the summer months flying towards light, the moth has a wingspan of about 2” and is white with black dots. The 2nd generation “hibernates” over the winter, feeds in the spring, spins a cocoon, and eventually becomes the Isabella tiger moth ( Pyrrhactia isabella). Interestingly, they produce a type of “antifreeze” which allows them to survive even when frozen. They feed on almost any type of plant material, but typically the damage does not warrant any control measures. There are 2 generations each year, but we readily notice the 2nd generation because it crosses the road and scurries about in the fall months.
These caterpillars, who are famous for their winter weather forecasting folklore, are also called the banded woolly caterpillar. If you are observant, you may even notice woolly bear caterpillars hurriedly crossing the roads on warm fall days. In fall, it is common to see woolly worms, or woolly bear caterpillars, on the porch and sidewalks.
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