Isabella Tiger Moth (Woolly Bear)

Pyrrharctia isabella, the Isabella tiger moth, whose larval form is called the banded woolly bear, woolly bear, or woolly worm, occurs in the United States and throughout Canada. It was first formally named by James Edward Smith in 1797. Scientific Name: Pyrrharctia isabella Range: Across North America Size: Caterpillar ~5 cm; adult wingspan 4.5–6.5 cm Status: Common ID Notes: Famous fuzzy caterpillar — black at both ends, rust-red in the middle. Adult is dull yellow-orange. Behavior / Notes: Folk tradition holds that wider rust bands predict mild winters — actually no correlation. Caterpillars produce antifreeze proteins to survive being frozen solid in winter.