Nurturing Natives- Isabella Tiger Moth

Did you know that the caterpillars of Isabella tiger moths are rumored to predict winter weather? These fuzzy friends, common called “woolly bear” caterpillars, have a stripe of red banding across their bodies. Colonial European settlers in the United States would correspond the 13 segments of the insect’s body to the 13 weeks of winter. According to the folklore created, the black on the body represents a cold, bitter winter, while having the red band represents a mild winter. The more black on the insect, the harsher the winter would be. While this folk tale persists, it’s been proven that these bands simply correspond to the age of the caterpillar!