Wooly Bear Caterpillar - Sutton Massachusetts

This Wooly Bear Caterpillar was videoed on October 30, 2009. They hibernate when winter hits, and turn into a moth in the spring. I fed it lettuce for a few minutes, then I tried to get it to "curl up" to show you its startle reaction. Unfortunately by that point it thought of me as "very friendly lettuce feeding person" rather than "scary intruder" and it refused to curl. Still, you get to see how strong its clingy little legs are, as it holds onto my finger, hoping for more lettuce. You can see more photos and videos at SuttonMass.org. Enjoy!

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• Wooly
• Bear
• Caterpillar
• Sutton
• Massachusetts

[ph0eix]

is that poo that thingy behind the caterpillar

[suttonmass]

@ph0eix Yes, I explain that in the full write-up. It's amazing how large it is compared with the size of the caterpillar!

[Iraqendwar]

Guys, I caught a woolly bear during the fall (now), brought it home and placed leaves, soil, and twigs in the box. Four days later, it wrap itself into a cocoon..for the winter? Is this okay?

I thought woolly bears are supposed to hibernate during the winter and encase itself into a cocoon ONLY when the SPRING comes. Won't it die if the cocoon hatches now and it's not spring yet?

[suttonmass]

@Iraqendwar If you're keeping it inside I imagine it doesn't matter what the weather outside is, because when it hatches it will still be inside and warm! Let us know what happens!

[suttonmass]

That's so neat to know! Thank you for posting :)

Yes this wolly bear was really cute and friendly!

[jposh707]

Is lettuce wooly bear's favorite food?

[GenericPurpleTurtle]

Whats the name of the piece played in the background?

[XirenaRuby]

@suttonmass Ok I have the same problem. My only other question is what to feed it when it comes out as a moth??? I doubt it'll eat the lettuce still ,got any advice? It would be really helpful. My nephews found it and I don't want the poor thing to die on them they are taking such good care of it. ^^ Thanks for any advice or info.

[cbohar84]

The caterpillar is like GIMME DAT LETTUCE xD

[fourferretz]

They predict the Winter, its acually pretty interesting just look up "Wooly bear caterpiller winter predictions". Nice video its cute I just found one a couple of days ago and last year I found about 5 during the year and 3 got in cocoons 2 made it out but 1 couldn't fly I think it was because he had just hatched.

[Maromi13]

I think its so neat how they love domestice veggies!