Woolly Bear Caterpillar Necklace

You most likely meet these fuzzy friends in the fall, don't you? You will just be walking along and all of a sudden you see one scurrying across your path. Why do they seem like they are on such an important mission? Because they are! Woolly bear caterpillars can be found during two generations every year. In late August they are busy running around looking for all they can eat before overwintering in leaves until the spring. They are one of many caterpillars we have here in New England that seeks out fallen leaves and hides under them for protection all winter in their caterpillar form. They are one important reason why we shouldn't do fall clean ups. They will wake up in the spring when the temperatures are consistently over freezing, find more to eat, and then cocoon up. When the woolly bear emerges from their cocoon about 2 weeks later, they have become beautiful Isabella Tiger moths! The moths will mate in the summer, lay eggs, and then those eggs become the second generation of c