woolly bear
Definition
Noun: 1. A type of caterpillar: The "woolly bear" is the larval stage of several species of moths, most notably those in the family Arctiidae. It is characterized by its dense, bristly, and often banded coat of hairs, which gives it a fuzzy or woolly appearance.
Usage
- The term "woolly bear" is used to specifically describe the caterpillar's distinctive physical characteristic—its hairy, wool-like covering.
- It is a common name, not a scientific one, and often refers to the caterpillar of the Isabella tiger moth (), whose brown and black banded form is famous in folklore for supposedly predicting winter weather.
Examples
- Noun:
- The children found a woolly bear crawling across the sidewalk.
- According to folklore, a wide brown band on a woolly bear caterpillar means a mild winter is coming.
- Many woolly bears feed on a variety of plants like grasses and weeds.
Advanced Usage
- "Woolly bear caterpillar": This is a more precise full form of the common name, explicitly stating the life stage.
- The woolly bear caterpillar will eventually spin a cocoon and emerge as a moth.
Variants and Related Words
- Woolly worm: A regional synonym for "woolly bear," commonly used in some parts of the United States.
- Band (in this context): Refers to the colored rings on the caterpillar's body. Descriptions often mention the "banded woolly bear."
Synonyms
- Caterpillar: The general term for the larval stage of butterflies and moths.
- Larva: The scientific term for the immature, wingless, feeding stage of an insect that undergoes complete metamorphosis.
Related Idioms and Phrases
- While not an idiom itself, the woolly bear is central to the "woolly bear winter forecast" folklore. The saying suggests the width of the caterpillar's brown band predicts the severity of the upcoming winter.
Noun
-
caterpillar of numerous moths characterized by a dense coat of woolly hairs; feed on plants and some are destructive pests
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