Type of Caterpillar

That is a Wolly Bear Caterpillar (Pyrrharctia Isabella), also called woolly bears or black-ended bears. It’s the larva of the Isabella tiger moth. You don’t have to worry because it is safe and it is not a stinging caterpillar. When it feels threatened, it rolls into a furry ball like a hedgehog.

Fun fact about woolly bears is that it is said to predict the winter weather. The caterpillar folklore said that if their rusty band is wider, it will be milder winter. But the more black there is, the more severe the winter. You can read all about it, here.

This is a Banded Woolly Bear Caterpillar; they are harmless except in rare cases when someone has an acute allergy to their hair. Some caterpillars have venom-filled hairs, which can be painful to humans, but woolly bears are as cute in your hand as they are on the ground. When you pick one up, it will probably play dead by curling up into a tight fuzzy ball. Woolly bear caterpillars molt several times as they grow, which affects the width of their band. If there’s a good growing season, the caterpillar will be bigger and its rusty band will be narrower. So while this indicates how good the summer was, it doesn’t predict the winter. Also, band size and colorings vary between species.

Banded woolly bears are quite active and are a barrel of fun to rear. Keep a lid on the box! They need a supply of fresh plantain leaves each day (probably twice a day as the caterpillars grow to their full length). Banded woolly bears collected early in the growing season should produce a generation of Isabella moths sometime during the summer. Banded woolly bears collected in the fall will not produce moths until the following spring. 

These caterpillars probably have some chilling requirements in order to resume proper development next spring. To rear them into Isabella moths, leave them outside perhaps in a screened cage to keep rodents from eating them. Because banded woolly bears are virtually harmless to people, are important in folklore, feed on weeds, and are noticed primarily in autumn after they have finished feeding and are seeking an overwintering shelter, it would not make sense to apply an insecticide for their control. The Woolly Bear Festival in Vermillion, Ohio, is purported to be the largest one-day festival in the state. North Carolina, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, New York, and Ontario have celebrations as well.

I hope you find this helpful.

Caterpillars are fascinating creatures that are a vital part of the ecosystem. They play a crucial role in the food chain as they are an essential food source for many animals. Caterpillars come in various shapes, sizes, and colors. In this blog post, we will discuss the types of caterpillars and whether or not they can be poisonous.

Types of Caterpillars

There are over 20,000 species of caterpillars in the world. They come in different colors, sizes, and shapes, and each has unique characteristics. Below are some of the most common types of caterpillars:

Woolly Bear Caterpillar

The woolly bear caterpillar is a fuzzy caterpillar that is black at both ends and reddish-brown in the middle. They are commonly found in North America and are known to predict the severity of the winter. They are not poisonous and are harmless to humans.

Luna Moth Caterpillar

The Luna Moth Caterpillar is a bright green caterpillar with spiky projections on its body. They are commonly found in North America and are known for their beauty. They are not poisonous and are harmless to humans.

Hickory Horned Devil Caterpillar

The Hickory Horned Devil Caterpillar is one of the largest caterpillars in North America. They have a bright green body with spikes and horns on their head. They are not poisonous, but their spikes can be sharp, and they can inflict pain.

Io Moth Caterpillar

The Io Moth Caterpillar is a bright green caterpillar with a white stripe down its back. They have spines that are toxic and can cause severe pain, swelling, and itching.

Puss Caterpillar

The Puss Caterpillar is a small, hairy caterpillar that resembles a ball of fur. They are found in North America and are known for their venomous spines that can cause intense pain, swelling, and other symptoms.

Are there any poisonous caterpillars?

Yes, there are several species of caterpillars that are poisonous. These caterpillars have venomous spines or hairs that can cause severe reactions in humans. Below are some of the poisonous caterpillars:

Io Moth Caterpillar

As mentioned earlier, the Io Moth Caterpillar has spines that are toxic and can cause severe pain, swelling, and itching.

Puss Caterpillar

The Puss Caterpillar, as mentioned earlier, is one of the most venomous caterpillars in North America. Their venom can cause severe pain, swelling, and other symptoms.

Saddleback Caterpillar

The Saddleback Caterpillar is a small, brightly colored caterpillar with spines that are toxic. They can cause severe pain, swelling, and other symptoms.

Buck Moth Caterpillar

The Buck Moth Caterpillar is a small, hairy caterpillar with venomous spines. They can cause severe pain, swelling, and other symptoms.

Asp Caterpillar

The Asp Caterpillar is a small, hairy caterpillar found in North America. They have venomous spines that can cause severe pain, swelling, and other symptoms.