Bob's Digital Eye
Signs of Spring 2
First 'Woolly' of the year.
Arctiidae-Tiger Moths. This is a large and diverse family of moths with around 11,000 worldwide species This family includes the groups commonly known as tiger moths (or tigers), which usually have bright colors, footmen, lichen moths and wasp moths. Many species have 'hairy' caterpillars which are popularly known as woolly bears or woolly worms.
A characteristic of the family is a tympanum on the thorax which when vibrated to produce ultrasonic sounds. These sounds are used in mating and for defense against predator. Many species retain distasteful or poisonous chemicals acquired from their host plants. Larvae typically acquire these chemicals which may be passed onto molting adults. In some species adults can also acquire these toxicants by regurgitating on decomposing plants containing the compounds, and sucking up the fluid. Female adults can transfer the toxicants to their eggs, or the males sometimes transfer them to females to help with defense of the eggs. Some larvae possess urticating or stinging hairs. The insects advertise these defenses with bright coloration, unusual postures, odors, or, in adults, ultrasonic vibrations. Some species mimic other moths that are poisonous, or wasps that sting. The ultrasound signals help nocturnal predators to learn to avoid the moths. Many of the caterpillars and adults are active during the daytime. If disturbed, woolly bear caterpillars will roll into a tight spiral
Local folklore of the American Northeast holds that that "wooly bears" have the ability to predict the weather, similar to that of the Groundhog. The forthcoming severity of a winter may be indicated by the amount of black on the Isabella tiger moth's caterpillar, the most familiar woolly bear in North America; more brown than black means a fair winter, but more black than brown means a harsh winter. However, the relative width of the black band varies among instars, not according to weather. The mythical qualities attributed to woolly bears in the American Northeast have led to such things as the Woolly Bear Festival.
Signs of Spring 2
First 'Woolly' of the year.
Arctiidae-Tiger Moths. This is a large and diverse family of moths with around 11,000 worldwide species This family includes the groups commonly known as tiger moths (or tigers), which usually have bright colors, footmen, lichen moths and wasp moths. Many species have 'hairy' caterpillars which are popularly known as woolly bears or woolly worms.
A characteristic of the family is a tympanum on the thorax which when vibrated to produce ultrasonic sounds. These sounds are used in mating and for defense against predator. Many species retain distasteful or poisonous chemicals acquired from their host plants. Larvae typically acquire these chemicals which may be passed onto molting adults. In some species adults can also acquire these toxicants by regurgitating on decomposing plants containing the compounds, and sucking up the fluid. Female adults can transfer the toxicants to their eggs, or the males sometimes transfer them to females to help with defense of the eggs. Some larvae possess urticating or stinging hairs. The insects advertise these defenses with bright coloration, unusual postures, odors, or, in adults, ultrasonic vibrations. Some species mimic other moths that are poisonous, or wasps that sting. The ultrasound signals help nocturnal predators to learn to avoid the moths. Many of the caterpillars and adults are active during the daytime. If disturbed, woolly bear caterpillars will roll into a tight spiral
Local folklore of the American Northeast holds that that "wooly bears" have the ability to predict the weather, similar to that of the Groundhog. The forthcoming severity of a winter may be indicated by the amount of black on the Isabella tiger moth's caterpillar, the most familiar woolly bear in North America; more brown than black means a fair winter, but more black than brown means a harsh winter. However, the relative width of the black band varies among instars, not according to weather. The mythical qualities attributed to woolly bears in the American Northeast have led to such things as the Woolly Bear Festival.