![]() Partly because so many slithery critters seemed daunting, but mostly because of the slime factor versus cute and fuzzy. I feel bad not helping the furry fellas, though.Ī few weeks ago, dozens of worms took to the road during a rainy spell. ( Here’s a link to a previous column on the subject). The thing is, they can cause a nasty rash that may require medical attention. ![]() They are adorable, with longish spikes of fur jutting beyond their white coat, fashioning a row of black spots. I’ve come across other critters roadside, such as the white fuzzy Hickory Tussock caterpillars ( Lophocampa caryae) that I didn’t help cross the road. They are a strong indicator of heavier than average snows for the season.Admittedly there’s a contradiction about my kindness in helping woolly bears. The direction they are moving is critical too…if they are moving north, it’s a mild winter…moving south…brrr!Ģ0% of the caterpillars were brown or orange or beige…ģ0% were white and gold, which has a bit of an edge over their more popular cousins because they predict more than temperature ranges. Direction of travel…Moving south, cold…Moving north, mild.When a worm has a band of dark color at it’s head and tail but a lighter band of brown in the middle…it means…a cold start and finish to winter with mild weather for the bulk of the winter season…if the worm has spiky protrusions, watch out for ice…if its woolier, better bundle up… Location of the bands…13 bands representing 13 weeks of winter.Appearance of the coat…Bushy, fat…Skinny, sparse…Spiky.The lighter the color, the milder the winter Color of the coat…The blacker the color, the more harsh the winter.
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