What colors form the distinct alternating bands typically seen circumferentially on the Woolly Bear?
Answer
Black and reddish-brown or rusty-orange
The most recognizable physical trait of the Woolly Bear caterpillar is its distinct pattern of alternating colored bands running around its body segments. These bands consistently appear in a combination of black contrasting sharply with either a reddish-brown or rusty-orange hue. The varying width of these black and reddish-brown segments is what observers often focus on when engaging with the folklore predicting future winter severity, as older larvae tend to show a larger brown section.
Related Questions
What is the scientific name for the Isabella Tiger Moth larva, commonly called Woolly Bear?Are the stiff hairs, or bristles, covering the Woolly Bear caterpillar venomous or stinging?What colors form the distinct alternating bands typically seen circumferentially on the Woolly Bear?What is the approximate maximum length reached by a Woolly Bear caterpillar when fully developed before seeking shelter?What is the resulting adult insect that emerges after the Woolly Bear pupates?What reflexive defensive behavior does the Woolly Bear exhibit when potentially threatened by a predator?What biochemical compounds does the caterpillar actively produce to survive being partially frozen during winter?What reliable physical marker distinguishes the Isabella Tiger Moth larva from the Giant Leopard Moth caterpillar?How is the wing coloration of the adult Isabella Tiger Moth generally described?What essential survival function is provided by the dense hair covering during the Woolly Bear's overwintering stage?What specific observable characteristic of the Woolly Bear forms the basis of common weather prediction folklore?