Tag: wooly bear caterpillar
Are Wooly Bear Caterpillars Safe to Touch and Hold?
A couple of days ago a reader asked us one simple question: “Are wooly worms ok to hold?” “Wooly worms” is one of the names of wooly bear caterpillars, and in fact basically any worm or caterpillar that has “wooly” in their name is generally a wooly bear caterpillar. The reader’s question is slightly ambiguous because it isn’t clear from what perspective (the human’s or the caterpillar’s) the question is being asked, but we are assuming that the reader is curious if it safe to hold wooly bear caterpillars, which is of course related to whether wooly bear caterpillars are harmful or dangerous in anyway. So, we will address all of these questions as we proceed.
Wooly Bear Caterpillars
Whether you call it a wooly bear caterpillar or a wooly worm caterpillar, the wooly bear is the same thing. Wooly bears are a furry insect that can be spotted during the fall months in large numbers. They can be seen inching along the ground in small groups or alone. While you will notice them in great numbers during the fall months, the wooly bear caterpillar actually has two life cycles. This means you can also find them inching along the ground in June and July as well.
