Woolly Bear Caterpillar (Isabella Tiger Moth)
Scientific Name: Pyrrharctia isabella
Order & Family: Order: Lepidoptera; Family: Erebidae
Size: Up to 2 inches (5 cm) in length
Natural Habitat
Fields, gardens, meadows, and roadsides throughout North America
Diet & Feeding
Broadleaf plants and grasses including dandelions, clover, plantain, and birch leaves
Behavior Patterns
Known for wandering in autumn to find overwintering sites; survives freezing temperatures by producing a cryoprotectant (glycerol) in its tissues; pupates in the spring
Risks & Benefits
Generally harmless to humans though the bristles can cause mild skin irritation in sensitive individuals; beneficial to the ecosystem as a food source for birds and as a future pollinator in moth form
Identified on: 3/16/2026