WoollyBear Caterpillar

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I saw this attractive caterpillar on the Canon City Riverwalk this morning, it's full name is Banded Woolly Bear. I have read that they are often seen in the fall after they emerge from the egg to overwinter in the caterpillar larva form. When winter is over, they pupate and emerge as Isabella tiger moths. Folk tales had it that the amount of black on these caterpillars predicted the severity of the coming winter--not true as this is related to it's age. The bottom pic shows the interesting pattern of their bristly hairs. The small tan spots are grains of sand from the trail as it rolled up in a defensive move when I moved it into the clearing for a better pic. SeEtta

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