Spotted! The woolly bear caterpillars are back

But why are they in such a hurry?

Image by steve_byland/Depositphotos.com

(CHICAGO) It's the time of year where Chicagoans begin to see the orange and black woolly bear caterpillars racing across roadways and paths. I spotted my first one this season, rushing to get across a bike path in the southwest Chicago suburbs.

Concerned it would get crushed by a passing bike, I picked it up with a stick and set it down in nearby tall grass. It didn't seem to like this as it sat motionless on its stick, and was still unmoving when I gave up waiting to see what it would do and walked away. Perhaps I shouldn't have tried to interfere with mother nature.

Isabella tiger moth

The woolly bear caterpillar, sometimes called woolly worm, will grow into the Isabella tiger moth, or Pyrrharctia isabella, (if you like knowing scientific terms of things.)

And they are indeed fast. At least fast for caterpillars. According to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), woolly bears can travel four feet per minute. That's fast when you're a caterpillar.

Image by Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

What's the legend of the woolly bear?

Folklore says the color of the orange and black bands on the fuzzy caterpillars can predict what kind of winter is coming. Longer orange bands in the middle are supposed to signify a milder winter. More black means winter will be harsh.

However, scientists disagree with the legend. According to the Naperville Park District, experts think it has more to do with the age of the caterpillar and what they've been eating all summer.

Where are they rushing to?

The caterpillars in Chicago have been feasting all summer. When the temperature cools, they begin to look for a warm place for shelter.

How will they spend their winter?

These fascinating little creatures have antifreeze in their bodies! The antifreeze doesn't prevent them from freezing in the winter. They even become hard to the touch. But when the weather warms in the spring, they defrost, spin a cocoon and emerge as an Isabella Tiger Moth.

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More from Jennifer Geer

I'm a Chicago-based content writer covering local happenings in my area. You can follow me here on NewsBreak by using the "follow" button, located before and after this article on your phone or the left side menu on your computer.

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