>Inside : Storm Team 8 winter weather outlook | Bill’s Blog: Sign of a cold winter? | Free Storm Team 8 weather appĬurrent insect experts agree that woolly bear caterpillars are not accurate predictors of winter weather. However, today’s entomologists say no one has been able to replicate the study. His studies showed that the woolly bear caterpillars had an 80 percent accuracy rate. Curran, former curator of insects at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, surveyed the bugs back in the 1950s. There has actually been some research pertaining to this old wives’ tale. Dr. If there is a lot of brown, the winter will be mild ff there is only a narrow strip of brown on their backs, expect a harsh winter. The old tale goes like this: the thickness of the brown stripe on the caterpillar will tell you how harsh the upcoming winter will be. One of the most widespread tales pertains to the big furry coat of the woolly bear caterpillar. An abundant drop of acorns or walnuts ensures new trees will be planted every few years. ![]() Trees want to produce young trees, which can only happen if scavengers don’t eat all their nuts. However, experts with Mass Audubon say nut production by oak trees has nothing to do with the incoming winter the yield is cyclical.Įvery two to five years, a tree will produce a bumper crop of nuts. Many have been noticing abnormalities this year, especially with tree nuts. But how reliable are these old wives’ tales? TREE NUTS (WOOD) - With the changing trees and tumbling temperatures, many in West Michigan look to nature for hints about the winter to come. Washington Street in Hagerstown, Maryland between October 1 and 31.GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. Those of you eager to participate in next year’s competition must have your entries at “Woolly Bear Headquarters” at 111 W. The “cuddliest” entry is crowned “ALMA” and the “biggest, woolliest” of entrants earns the grand title of “Hairy Hager.” Each title holder also receives a cash award of $100.00. The Woolly Bear has gained special attention notoriety in Hagerstown, Maryland, where the National Woolly Bear competition is held every October. Entomology texts de-bunk this notion by revealing that the older the instar (larval stage) of the caterpillar, the more reddish-brown they become, thus, variation in color merely reflects age differences among the larvae as they prepare to over-winter and are not scientifically reliable indicators of the Winter weather to come. Apparently, some would-be prognosticators of the weather believe that the amount of black on the caterpillars varies proportionately with the severity of the upcoming Winter. ![]() It is the adoration of the caterpillar that is of special interest. The adult moth is yellow brown with three rows of small black spots on its abdomen while caterpillars are usually black on each end with a reddish-brown band around the middle. Maybe your children have proudly run up to you with a round, bristly curled up creature in their hands to show off their latest find! These fuzzy, bristly, black n’ brown creatures are the critters known as “Woolly Bear Caterpillars.” This caterpillar is the larva of Isia Isabella, a species of the tiger moth. Perhaps you’ve wondered about those black n’ brown fuzzy things scurrying across the roadway in the Fall.
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