banded woolly bear
insect larva
Quick Summary
The banded woolly bear is the caterpillar, or larva, of the Isabella tiger moth (Pyrrharctia isabella). This insect larva is easily recognizable by its coloration: brown in the middle, with black bands at both ends.12
A common folk belief suggests that the width of these black bands can predict the severity of the upcoming winter. Narrower black bands are thought to indicate a milder winter. Woolly bears are a type of caterpillar belonging to various species of tiger moths.12
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