If a woolly bear prematurely emerges in late February in a northern climate due to an unseasonable warm spell, where should it be sheltered to allow it to re-enter diapause?
Answer
In an unheated space like a shed or garage that remains cold.
Finding a woolly bear active in late February or early March suggests it has mistaken a temporary warm spell for the onset of spring, leading it to prematurely break diapause (hibernation). While rescuing it might seem kind, bringing it into a warm indoor environment disrupts its internal biological clock, which requires sustained cold to correctly trigger the spring metamorphosis. The recommended gentle intervention is to place the caterpillar in a sheltered container with dry leaves or bark, and then store this container in an unheated, cold area, such as a shed or garage, ensuring it remains cold enough to resume diapause until a sustained spring thaw finally occurs.
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