Woolly (Bears) Worms

Posted by Georgene A. Bramlage Oct 7, 2007

A lot of days I get more daydreaming and observing done than gardening. One of my favorite pursuits is to watch wooly worms - wooly bears, black-ended bears, banded woolly bears - inch their way about the garden landscape.

Folklore has it that these critters can predict the coming winter weather. Look for those that are black at each end with a reddish brown band in the middle. The size of the brown band is said to be an indicator of winter's severity - the narrower the band, the harsher the winter. If woolly worms are browner than black, and the middle band tends toward orange that indicates the winter will be mild.

The woolly worm is really the (caterpillar) larval stage of the Isabella tiger moth (Pyrrhactia isabella). Unfortunately for us lovers of folklore, folks at the West Virginia University Extension Service and other scientists say there is no scientific evidence that woolly worms predict the weather. Variations in worm bands are linked to differences in species and larval stage, not the weather.

We can still enjoy these critters despite their scientific rap. The folks in Lewisburg, PA annually celebrate at the Woolly Worm Festival. This year it is on Saturday, October 13 from 9am to 5pm. You can also read more about Wooly Bears, their reputations and celebratory activities at All About Worms: Articles About Woolly Bears.