Woolly Worms, Fact and Folklore

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 can be found 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 because it 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.

I've talked with people who've kept records each year and vow that the woolly worms predict the severity of winters quite accurately. I haven't kept records, but I have noticed that the woolly worms in any given year do have similar amounts of black and brown. Could the folklore be true? If so, what does that mean for this winter?

The woolly worm is also celebrated. 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. 

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