According to modern entomological observation, what does a wider brown band on a woolly bear actually suggest about its history?
Answer
It indicates the caterpillar hatched earlier in the season.
While folklore links the band width to future weather, modern entomological findings suggest that the coloration is more closely correlated with the caterpillar's developmental age and history rather than acting as a direct predictor of forthcoming conditions. Specifically, observations indicate that the brown band tends to widen as the caterpillar ages over time. Therefore, finding a caterpillar with a wider brown band may simply signify that it hatched earlier in the season, perhaps following a winter that was relatively mild the preceding year, allowing for earlier development, rather than predicting what the next winter will bring.
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