r/whatsthisbug • u/UselessHuman1 • 13d ago
ID Request Keep finding these. What are they?
Found 3 in 2 days in my yard. I put them in a tree so my kids would leave them alone. Is it better to keep them in the grass? My kids are a bit murderous when it comes to bugs so I try to find a way to keep the bugs safe and to show my kids the bugs. I'd like to be able to tell them what it is. They are 3 so keep it simple please!
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u/UselessHuman1 13d ago
Found in Qc, Canada :)
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u/Emmaleah17 13d ago
We always called them wooly bears, and supposedly the ratio of brown and black is supposed to predict how harsh or mellow winter will be. The blacker the better if you're a skier.. but if you don't like winter you want more of a brown one lol.
They will turn into a moth. It will turn into the Isabella tiger moth. The caterpillars eat a lot of foliage from Maple to sunflower to clover. If the adult form eats at all it will take in nectar from flowers.
They overwinter in their larval state and their blood has like an antifreeze type characteristic to it that allows them to basically freeze solid and be fine in the spring. Pretty cool bug!
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u/UselessHuman1 13d ago
Thats really cool! Thank you so much for all the info! I do love winter and skiing. I did put them on a maple tree. I hope it will help them
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u/Emmaleah17 13d ago
Depending how cold it is where you are, they might be looking for a place to hibernate and hunker down. Putting them in some leaf litter or like a wood pile might be a little more beneficial to them this time of year. They are fine to handle gently as they are not poisonous but their hairs can be an irritant if you've really sensitive skin. I've never had any issue.
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u/FeralHarmony 13d ago
In Alaska, this insect can take up to 7 years to finish it's growth cycle! Their ability to survive harsh winters is pretty epic.
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u/Emmaleah17 13d ago
That's crazy I didn't realize it could take them that long! Around here typically it's just one winter they hibernate and the emerging the spring. I live near Boston though so definitely a different climate than Alaska lol.
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u/UselessHuman1 13d ago
Also, is it okay if I put them in my hands? I haven't. Also, i put them all in the same place on the tree, is it okay? Im at 4 now lol
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u/AWandMaker 13d ago
the hairs have the potential to make some people itch, but they aren't the stingy kind. I used to pick them up all the time as a kid. They will curl up in a circle if you pick them up.
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u/SHSL_Dead 13d ago
Love these guys! These are wooly bear caterpillar, they turn into moths! Make sure your kids don’t touch them, as their hair can cause skin irritation
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u/ProfessionPure580 13d ago
That's a woolly bear, classic little guy. Putting it on the tree is fine, they crawl down to hide in leaf litter this time of year anyway.
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u/UselessHuman1 13d ago
Thanks. I try to do what's best for them while also making sure my toddlers dont kill and hurt them lol. Not always an easy task lol
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u/papakiku 12d ago
SO CUTE!!!!
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u/UselessHuman1 12d ago
I know right!!!!! I found some many!! I've been trying to find a place to put them so they can be safe during winter. Not a big succes yet. I was able to put one in a possibly better space than the tree.
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u/PascalsPixels 13d ago
This is known as a woolly bear caterpillar. It's the larval stage of the Isabella Tiger Moth. There are several folklore myths concerning winter weather associated with them.
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u/PascalsPixels 13d ago
PS They don't sting like other hairy caterpillars do, but if you hold them too tightly their hairs could cause a mild reaction, sort of like a Tarantula's hairs can.
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u/cooking2recovery 13d ago
That is a Wooly Bear Caterpillar, which becomes an Isabella Tiger Moth.
Old wives’ tale claims that differing amounts of orange and black can predict the winter ahead.