Wooly Worm Wackiness

badlander · #1 10/27/14, 03:51 PM

Like a lot of people, believe in it or don't but we all tend to really cock an eyebrow at those first wooly bears that show up around the farm in the fall and compare their coats and color patterns to what the Farmer's Almanac and the weather service has to say about the upcoming winter.

For us in North Eastern MO, the outlook is predicted to be colder than usual but average for snow and the early wooly worms around our farm seemed to reflect that prediction. Solid black each and every one of them except for one that had a dark brown 'skirt' around him. That is until last week when each and every wooly worm that I've seen trying to sneak into the house has showed up with a thick, wide band of brown around its middle. No solid blacks at all. Each one bi-colored and sporting a very thick coat.

I have to admit I've never seen them change in mid season this way, cold and average precip to snowy in a matter of weeks.

I think they are trying to confuse me, but then again, these days that isn't all that hard to do. Still with all the serious stuff happening in the world right now, a little light harmless fun with wooly worms is just what the doctor ordered.

Any one else notice their Wooly Bears changing their minds now that winter is approaching?

secuono · #2 10/27/14, 04:24 PM

This year, all have been solid colors, black, gold, blonde, orange. None have bands. Last year, some of the black had small bands, other colors never have them.

collegeboundgal · #3 10/27/14, 04:28 PM

First couple I had seen were all black. Like you, I'm starting to see more and more with a brown (wide to) ban. I think I'll hope for the best, but plan for the worst... lol. It can't get much worse than last year for coldness (yes, I know it can, but really...?)

Explorer · #4 10/27/14, 04:54 PM

Saw a scientific explanation of different colored wooly worms . Said their color was determined by their age . According to science their color has nothing to do with up-coming winter weather .

mrstillery09 · #5 10/27/14, 05:03 PM

I've seen all sorts of colors here, the standard black and brown, but also all black and all brown. The only difference is I seem to have seen a lot more recently than in recent years...don't know if that means anything though!

Forcast · #6 10/27/14, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WV Hillbilly

Saw a scientific explanation of different colored wooly worms . Said their color was determined by their age . According to science their color has nothing to do with up-coming winter weather .

Party Pooper

badlander · #7 10/27/14, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Forcast

Party Pooper

You took the words right out of my mouth. The next thing I'm going to read is that there is no such thing as Santa and the Easter Bunny is a figment of my imagination.

BlackFeather · #8 10/27/14, 07:34 PM

Ours were showing a normal winter. We usually average off all that we see. So far fall has been as predicted, warm they are saying a cold winter though so if we average it off it will be a normal season all together.

Forcast · #9 10/27/14, 07:48 PM

38 tonight 78 -80 tomorrow then 32

WildernesFamily · #10 10/27/14, 08:40 PM

Ours have all had a band... and like others we've noticed a LOT more of them this year. And for some reason many of them have felt a very strong need to cross Hwy 65... I'm always spotting them trying to make it over to the other side.

Chief Cook · #11 10/27/14, 08:45 PM

I don't think we even have woolie worms around here. At least not enough to notice. Until THIS YEAR!! They're every where!!! Even crawling across the highway last month! Yuck. They don't make it across very often, ya know? I don't know where they came from, but I think they were telling us we were about to get flooded again. So this year, I am going to blame the flood on the woolie worms! Yeah! LOL

rhaige9 · #12 10/27/14, 10:23 PM

We've had a lot more here in Idaho than I've seen in the five years I've been here. A lot more. I'd not seen many of the all blacks before, maybe just a handful. This year it's been about 2/3rds regular black and brown banded to 1/3 blacks. I'd never seen the blonds and orange before this year. Can't remember if they are earlier or not.

Belfrybat · #13 10/28/14, 07:29 AM

I don't think I've every seen a wooly worm. Pictures, please?

badlander · #14 10/28/14, 07:39 AM

We've had more wooly bears than usual here. No matter where you are, look down and there will be one crawling around or trying to get inside. There has also been a surplus of little grasshoppers (makes me wish I had gotten chickens this year) and recently those obnoxious Japanese Beetles. The Beetles have appeared with a vengeance. I was outside yesterday hanging up clothes to line dry and the nasty things were flying into me and bouncing off my face. I had one land on my arm and immediately start to bite me.

The wooly worms are fun in the fall but those Japanese Beetles are just plain nasty.

hercsmama · #15 10/28/14, 08:12 AM

Lot's more than usual here as well. As a matter of fact, we were having this discussion just the other day here.
Box Elders, Cluster Flies, Woolie Worms, Grasshoppers, all of them have tripled over last year. What's up with that?

bluefish · #16 10/28/14, 08:16 AM

I don't think I've ever actually woolly worms with any brown on them. All the ones up here are always black. Our area this year has been swamped with yellow jackets and wasps. Lots of fun there. Lots of pine beetles flying around this fall, too. Way more than normal.

WildernesFamily · #17 10/28/14, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Belfrybat

I don't think I've every seen a wooly worm. Pictures, please?

Went out to get a pic of one for you.. but go figure! When you don't want them they are everywhere, we you want one, you can't find one!

Here are some pics from Bing search:
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=...AC&FORM=IQFRBA

WildernesFamily · #18 10/28/14, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hercsmama

Lot's more than usual here as well. As a matter of fact, we were having this discussion just the other day here.
Box Elders, Cluster Flies, Woolie Worms, Grasshoppers, all of them have tripled over last year. What's up with that?

Our grasshoppers and woolie worms have definitely increased like crazy this year. The grasshoppers got to the point where we started talking about making a meal out of them!

At the moment we are being invaded by these bugs - Asian Lady Beetles.

Wooly Worm Wackiness - Homesteading Questions