What antifreeze substance does the Woolly Bear Caterpillar produce to survive freezing temperatures?
Answer
Glycerol
To successfully manage overwintering preparedness and survive freezing conditions common in late fall, the Woolly Bear Caterpillar synthesizes an antifreeze substance, specifically identified as glycerol. The production of this compound is essential as it enables the caterpillar to enter a state of suspended animation, known as cryptobiosis, allowing its internal systems to tolerate temperatures well below freezing without sustaining cellular damage. This biological adaptation is key to its survival until spring.
Related Questions
What is the scientific designation for the Woolly Bear recognized across North America?Which Phylum groups the Woolly Bear based on its exoskeleton and jointed appendages?The Order Lepidoptera connects the Woolly Bear caterpillar to which general group of insects?Into which Family has modern taxonomy largely shifted species like *P. isabella* from older Arctiidae groupings?What is the common name for the adult form emerging after the pupation of *P. isabella*?What antifreeze substance does the Woolly Bear Caterpillar produce to survive freezing temperatures?What term describes the state of suspended animation the Woolly Bear enters during winter using antifreeze?Which fuzzy caterpillar, also in Erebidae, is distinguished from *P. isabella* by its often uniform coloration?Confirmation that the Woolly Bear is a true insect is established by its placement in which Linnaean Class?The folklore regarding the Woolly Bear's banding pattern is actually linked to what factor, rather than future weather?