Woolly Bear Caterpillar
Posted by Rachel Bruno on October 16, 2006
Q: My sister just gave my daughter a woolly bear caterpillar and we aren't quite sure what to do with it. How long does it need to eat before it hibernates? Will we know when it is through eating? My daughter loves to touch it, will this harm it?
Thanks so much for your help!
-Rachel
Habitat: suburban/yard
State: Utah
Habitat: suburban/yard
A: Your caterpiller is getting ready to sleep for the winter and really doesn't need food - it will need to be in a cold place though. At the end of summer, the Woolly Bears crawl to some out-of-the-way place to overwinter and then will become a pupa (make a cocoon) in the spring and then emerge as an Isabella Moth. Check out this unit we did on Woolly Bears at: www.enaturalist.org
The best thing you can do for your little guy is release him where it is safe and there are lots of nooks and crannies for him to hide in. If you keep him/her in your house, it will be too warm and this will mixup its internal biological clock. Gently touching the hairs on its body shouldn't be a problem. Good luck and thanks for writing.
John Wiessinger ( October 17, 2006)