Gibbs said just based on the unscientific nature of measuring the stripes alone, the folklore isn't true. Prediction vs reality: How Old Farmer's Almanac predictions have compared to actual Indianapolis winters Stories about the woolly bear's ability to drop some prophetic winter knowledge mostly seem to center on the caterpillars' stripes, as noted above from the National Weather Service. Their ability to survive the winter leads to the folklore surrounding the brown and black species of woolly bears. The ethylene glycol lowers the caterpillars' blood freezing point and allows them to survive the winter. Woolly bears handle winters differently than most caterpillars. Instead of spending the cold days snug in a cocoon, they curl up under leaves or logs and their bodies produce ethylene glycol, the same substance in antifreeze for cars. Indiana winter forecast: Farmer's Almanac makes some seriously chilling predictions for coming winter Woolly bears make ethylene glycol.
They're on a race to somewhere, but nobody knows where."ĭespite the randomness of the caterpillars' travels, Gibbs said it's safe to assume they're looking for a place to stay the winter. "They migrate from the plants that they've been feeding on and for some inexplicable reason, they decide they've got to move," Gibb said. "I can park on the road and see one going one direction and another going the other direction, and they're just bootin' along. They don't even stop to say hi to each other. Purdue entomology professor Timothy Gibb said besides entomologists, people don't notice woolly bears until September. Find Woolly bear caterpillar stock images in HD and millions of other royalty-free stock photos, illustrations and vectors in the Shutterstock collection. Heading north, then it's all good winter-wise because they're willing to stick around.įall leaves: Where and when fall foliage will peak in Indiana But what's really going on with these cute critters? One famous bit of folklore claims that the stripe on the back of a woolly caterpillar indicates the severity of the upcoming winter. See one inching south, it's fleeing northern winter. Direction of travel is also a supposed winter weather indicator.
If the woolly bear is extra woolly, it will be a cold winter.
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