The blacker the caterpillar is, the colder and snowier the coming winter will be.Ī man named C.H. The fatter and more prominent the brown segments – the milder the winter will be. The ends of the woolly bear are black and the middle is brown. Legend has it that you can look at a woolly-bear (sometimes called woolly-worm caterpillar) and predict the severity of the winter by looking at the 13 bands or segments of the caterpillar. It has black-colored ends and a band of brown color in the middle. Many variables may contribute to changes in the caterpillar’s coloration, including larval stage, food availability, the temperature or moisture during their development, age, and even species.I came across this critter on the walking path at the Alpine Athletic Center on Sunday. However, today’s entomologists say no one has been able to replicate the study.Ĭurrent insect experts agree that woolly bear caterpillars are not accurate predictors of winter weather. His studies showed that the woolly bear caterpillars had an 80 percent accuracy rate. Curran, former curator of insects at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, surveyed the bugs back in the 1950s. There has actually been some research pertaining to this old wives’ tale. Dr. If there is a lot of brown, the winter will be mild If there is only a narrow strip of brown on their backs, expect a harsh winter. The old tale goes like this: the thickness of the brown stripe on the caterpillar will tell you how harsh the upcoming winter will be. One of the most widespread tales pertains to the big furry coat of the woolly bear caterpillar.
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