Definition

Noun 1. The caterpillar (larva) of a moth belonging to the family Arctiidae: This term refers specifically to the immature, larval stage of certain moths. These caterpillars are characteristically covered in dense, long, and often bristly hairs, giving them a fuzzy or "woolly" appearance. The term "woolly bear" is a common name for these larvae.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The children were fascinated by the woolly bear moth crawling across the path, its black and rusty-brown hairs looking like a tiny, moving teddy bear.
  • A common sign of autumn in North America is the sight of a woolly bear moth hurrying to find a sheltered place to spend the winter.
  • Not all fuzzy caterpillars are woolly bear moths; they must belong to the specific Arctiidae family.

Advanced Usage

• As a subject of folklore: The banded woolly bear (the larva of the Isabella tiger moth, ) is the subject of weather prediction folklore. The width of its reddish-brown band is said to forecast the severity of the coming winter.
  • According to legend, a wide brown band on a woolly bear moth means a mild winter is ahead.

Variants and Related Words

• Woolly bear (n): The more common colloquial term for the larva itself. "Woolly bear moth" explicitly connects the caterpillar to its adult moth stage.
• Arctiid moth (n): The scientific term for the adult moth of the family Arctiidae, from which the woolly bear caterpillar hatches.
• Tiger moth (n): A common name for many of the often brightly patterned adult moths in the Arctiidae family.

Synonyms

• Fuzzy caterpillar: A general descriptive term, but not all fuzzy caterpillars are true woolly bears (Arctiidae larvae).
• Hairy caterpillar: A general descriptive term.

Notes on Meaning

It is critical to distinguish that "woolly bear moth" refers to the larval stage, not the adult flying insect. The term is a compound noun that links the recognizable caterpillar ("woolly bear") to its biological classification as a future moth. The adult form is simply called an Arctiid or tiger moth.

Noun

1. larva of moth of the family Arctiidae