The Woolly Worm

A sure sign of fall and the impending winter is the woolly worm. Folklore says that the more black the woolly worms have on their bodies in the fall, the harsher the winter will be. The brown tells of a milder winter. This is especially watched in regions, like the Appalachians, but it's not limited to there. In fact it has spread across the United States.

The woolly worm's official name is the Banded Woolly Bear, and it's the larva of the Isabella Tiger Moth. The larva emerges from the egg in the fall. It survives the winter and has a protective substance that allows it to be frozen and still live. When spring comes, it will pupate and come out as a moth. Then, it only has a few days to find its mate and for the female to lay eggs. Only in Arctic regions, the larvae might survive over more than one winter before turning into a moth. It feeds on many different types of plants.

The woolly worm is celebrated, too. Banner Elk, NC, has a Woolly Worm Festival each year, when the small town bulges with visitors to buy crafts, taste the food, run in races, and listen to music. Other woolly worm festivals occur in states like Ohio, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and New York. Check for ones in your area.

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