Banded Woollybear – Isabella Moths – Pyrrharctia Isabella

Banded Woollybear   Scientific Name: Pyrrharctia isabella Common Name: Isabella tiger moth, banded woolly Bear, woolly worm, black-ended Bear, and fuzzy wuzzy Appearance: Banded woolly Bear consists of a segmented larva covered entirely with black and brown hairs. The adult moths are yellowish-orange in colour with a scaly thorax and spotted wings. It also has orange pointed forelegs and pink hindlegs. Host Plants or Food: Banded woolly Bear feeds on almost all types of green plants, including weeds, grasses, herbs, and trees. Territory: Throughout North America Mode of Damage: It acts as a leaf chewer and damages the plants by feeding on its foliage. Habits and Life History: Banded woolly Bear is usually found in cold regions. It is also called a weather worm for its tendency to predict the weather. In case of harsh incoming winters, the black band of hair widens. They lay eggs on trees and grasses, which then produce a larva. The larvae pupate in a cocoon during the winters. It can survive in temperatures as low as -90 F by freezing and then thawing in the Spring again. Upon contact, the caterpillar rolls itself into a ball and moves away. They produce two generations per year.