Wilderness Portraits Archive by Lloyd Paul Aiello

Wooly Worm on Cedar

An Isabella Tiger Moth (Pyrrharctia isabella) caterpillar searches the bark of a Northern White Cedar (Thuja occidentalis) in northern Maine for a suitable location in which to pass the winter. Found throughout North America except in most northern Canada, they will usually settle under a section of tree bark, a rock, or a log where they produce a natural organic antifreeze that permits then to survive cold temperatures as extreme as -90oF!

The caterpillars have many names: Wooly Worm, Fuzzy Bear, Hedgehog Caterpillar and Woolly Bear. The timing of their travels and their distinctive banded coloration has led to a robust folklore of their being an established predictor of the severity of the winter to come.

In fact, the coloration of the Woolly Bear is a result of its age, species and diet. A more favorable growing season for the caterpillar results in a narrower red-orange middle band. As the caterpillars molt, their colors change, acquiring more black and less red.

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Filename: _LPA7170-Edit-wooly-worm-caterpillar-cedar-bark.tif
Image Size: 1570x2360 / 18.6MB; www.WildernessPortraits.com; Kingfield Kingfield cabin Maine Wooly Worm animals bark black brown caterpillar cedar close-up color danger descriptors format identification insects master places plants red season solitude state-city-location summer things trees type vertical view woods
Contained in galleries: Recent Additions, Wildlife Portraits, Insects & Spiders

An Isabella Tiger Moth (Pyrrharctia isabella) caterpillar searches the bark of a Northern White Cedar (Thuja occidentalis) in northern Maine for a suitable location in which to pass the winter. Found throughout North America except in most northern Canada, they will usually settle under a section of tree bark, a rock, or a log where they produce a natural organic antifreeze that permits then to survive cold temperatures as extreme as -90oF!<br />
<br />
The caterpillars have many names: Wooly Worm, Fuzzy Bear, Hedgehog Caterpillar and Woolly Bear. The timing of their travels and their distinctive banded coloration has led to a robust folklore of their being an established predictor of the severity of the winter to come. <br />
<br />
In fact, the coloration of the Woolly Bear is a result of its age, species and diet. A more favorable growing season for the caterpillar results in a narrower red-orange middle band. As the caterpillars molt, their colors change, acquiring more black and less red.