The Isabella tiger moth (Pyrrharctia isabella) is probably most known for its larval form. As a caterpillar, the Isabella tiger moth is known as the woolly bear, a handsome little caterpillar with dense hair with black bands on the end of the body and a rusty-red band in the center. Adult moth’s front wings are yellow or tan, pointed, and often have faint lines and small dark spots. The hindwings will vary from males in males and females. Male hindwings are usually a pale orange, while the females are rose-pink.
Size
Medium: 1–1.3 inches (24–33 mm)
Active Periods
Year-round, peak in October
Food Source
The larvae will feed a wide variety of woody and herbaceous plants, including asters, clover dandelions, elms, grasses, maples, and sunflowers. Adults are most often hosted by deciduous trees and flowers of the Daisy family, such as sunflowers.1
Overwintering
Will overwinter as caterpillars under bark, leaf litter, or logs. In the fall, they can often be seen wandering in search of these sites.
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Photos:
Moth: Kathleen Houlahan Chayer, Public Domain, iNaturalist
Caterpillar: Ben Keen, Public Domain, iNaturalist
