Hunting Woolly Bears

Posted by Elece Hollis Jul 23, 2008

Dear Readers,

Keep those children learning all summer! Studying insects can be great fun for the whole family. Why not go on a bear hunt!

The Isabella Tiger moth is best known for its caterpillar the Woolly Bear. This caterpillar is easily identified and children love to watch it curl up when it is touched. This simple self-defense mechanism helps the caterpillar hide from birds and other predators.

Children can hunt and observe the caterpillars and keep some for the purpose of watching the Tiger Moth build its cocoon and just a few days later emerge as a large moth.

It is a wonderful science project and will help the students develop a love of insects as they observe the life cycle and the metamorphosis of this creature.

Learn about what characteristics make an insect different from a bug. Learn how to identify the caterpillar and also the difference in true legs, prolegs, and prop-legs.

Read Woolly Bear Hunting and get interest stirred up for the study of this fascinating insect.

~Elece~