houston – Spring in Houston not only brings with it allergies and wet weather, but also an abundance of insects and insects invading your home, patio, and sidewalks. One special creature that attracts the attention of many people is the black caterpillar, also known as the woolly bear caterpillar.
What is a woolly caterpillar?
Woolly caterpillars, also known as fuzzy worms or woolly worms, are a type of caterpillar that is covered with hairs or setae, giving it a distinctive fuzzy appearance.
There are two types of woolly caterpillars found in Texas: salt marsh caterpillars and garden tiger moth caterpillars. Salt marsh caterpillars vary in color from black to brown to yellowish, but garden tiger moth caterpillars are brown with black upper parts and downy parts.
Are woolly bear caterpillars poisonous?
If you're like me, when you saw one of these caterpillars, your immediate thought was to run far away. Don't touch me. ' Because, at least from personal experience, we've always been told that these little caterpillars can sting or are poisonous.
However, it is important to clarify that neither salt marsh caterpillars nor garden tiger moth caterpillars are poisonous and do not have the ability to sting.
Can we really predict winter?
I don't know if you've ever heard the myth that woolly bear caterpillars are supposed to predict the severity of winter, but according to scientists and some studies, that's not the case.
Some believe that the caterpillar's brown and black bands indicate how harsh its winter will be. The larger the band, the harsher the winter. No link has been found between woolly bears' spike patterns and the severity of future weather.
Their complexion has nothing to do with predicting the weather, but it does have meaning.
Woolly bear caterpillars molt their exoskeleton six times before turning into moths. With each molt, the color becomes more rusty and less black. This means that the youngest caterpillars are usually all black, while the more colorful caterpillars are older individuals. Additionally, there may be a link between woolly bears' appearance and climate. Color patterns may indicate when the caterpillar last moulted and may reflect weather and temperature trends. Blacker caterpillars would theoretically absorb more sunlight.
So, while encountering a black caterpillar may be scary, there's no need to worry about potential harm. They are harmless creatures that naturally change as part of their life cycle in spring Houston.
Have you found woolly bear caterpillars this spring? Drop your photos on Click2Pins!
KPRC Click2Houston Copyright 2024 – All Rights Reserved.
