Banded Woolly Bear - Pyrrharctia isabella

I saw very few woolly bears this past autumn - maybe a dozen. In comparison, the year before, I saw at least 50.

Habitat: Along the edge of a meadow

comments (2)

Ferdy Christant

Lion

Any theory as to why you saw less? Harsh winter? Posted 6 years ago
1. Christine Young
  
  Lion
  
  I think it has to do with precipitation and parasitism. Woolly bear populations are higher in years when there is more spring rain. Parasitoids are more abundant when there is a lot of summer rain. Last year, we had a lot of summer rain. I don't remember if we had a lot of spring rain though. So, it would makes sense that there were fewer woolly bears this past autumn if parasitoids were more dense. Even more so if our spring was dry-ish. But, I could be wrong. Maybe, they just had a bad year this year; Or, maybe the year before was an unusually good year - for no particular reason. Posted 6 years ago

The Banded woolly bear

The moth "Pyrrharctia isabella" is known by different common names during its two main life stages. The adult is the Isabella Tiger Moth and the larva is called the Banded Woolly Bear. The larvae of many species of Arctiid moths are called "woolly bears" because of their long, thick, furlike setae.

Info 35 0

Similar species: Moths And Butterflies

Species identified by Christine Young