Woolly Bears: Arctiidae Caterpillars

Woolly bear or fuzzy bear caterpillars are often found crawling across roads or sidewalks in the fall after they have left their foodplants in search of a dark and sheltered spot where they can hibernate for the winter. With springtime warmth, the caterpillars again become active, feeding for a brief time and then fashioning cocoons out of silk and body hairs. Tiger moths usually emerge from cocoons two to three weeks later.

Larvae of some Arctiidae species spin cocoons in the fall.

Woolly bear or fuzzy bear caterpillars come in a variety of colours and patterns, many of them quite striking!

Click on the picture or hypertext (underlined blue or purple print) below to access information about and images of various Tiger Moths (Arctiidae) and caterpillars:

ARCTIIDAE (TIGER MOTH) INDEX:

Yellow Bear Spilosama virginica eastern 3/4 U.S & Can..............

Woolly Bear Pyrrharctia isabella entire U.S., Can., Mexico.......

Giant Leopard Moth Ecpantheria scribonia eastern 1/2 U.S. & Can.

Pale Tussock Moth Halysidota tessellaris eastern 1/2 U.S., Can. & Mex...

Hickory Tussock Moth Lophocampa caryae Mex., Sw. U.S. to Se. Can...

Spotted tussock Moth Lophocampa maculata E. 2/3 Can. U.S. border

Larval images are from Caterpillars of Eastern Forests courtesy of David Wagner.

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