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Published: 2003-10-13 07:45:49 +0000 UTC; Views: 2700; Favourites: 62; Downloads: 810
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Description This is the Wooly Bear Caterpillar i'm raising. The caterpillar falls under " bristled" species, of which there are several different colors: all black, all brown, yellow and gray. The woolly bear, also known as the woolly worm and the black-ended bear, is the larva of the Isabella Tiger Moth. The several colored varieties of Wooly Bears correspond to different moth species.

Mine here will become a Giant Leopard Moth . The moth stage of this species is very beautiful. The wings of the moth are solid white, with irregularly shaped black circles all over them giving it the leopard-like appearance. The abdomen is mettalic blue with bright orange markings.

But back to the caterpillar - like the groundhog's shadow, the traditional woolly bear's 13 distinctive black and reddish-brown bands have become a rule of thumb in forecasting winter. According to the Old Farmer's Almanac, the longer the middle brown band, the milder and shorter the coming winter; the shorter the brown band, the longer and more severe winter will be.

Because this Wooly Bear is ENTIRELY coated with long black hairs, known as setae, it should indicate a particularly mean winter, but it's all folklore ... And the cherry red bands here only indicate growth and feeding.

When feeling threatened, the caterpillar will curl up in a ball revealing bright red markings between its many segments. A good field guide marker for indentification, and also - it makes it hard to tell the head from the bottom end.
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Comments: 114

Inqy [2007-11-18 06:49:33 +0000 UTC]

Aww, I love those things! I had one at my doorstep a few months ago, but I couldn't get a decent picture of it. And the spines scared me. Thanks so much for posting the information about it, too; it's nice to know what my little guy became.

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UncleGran-Gran [2007-02-19 07:28:57 +0000 UTC]

This dood is adorable

I faved this forever ago, just getting to commenting now...how sad...

Well...I like this picture, it makes me feel...at home...

Yes, I must be on something, why do you ask?

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DexterousDamsel [2005-07-27 01:17:39 +0000 UTC]

You should make this a print. I bet people would buy it.

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littleredelf In reply to DexterousDamsel [2005-08-29 04:25:42 +0000 UTC]

you know - i never really thought of it as such
but i certainly appreciate that you think it's worthy

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DexterousDamsel In reply to littleredelf [2005-08-29 04:40:49 +0000 UTC]

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hexC0DE [2004-08-30 04:01:16 +0000 UTC]

cool idea

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Sturmwehr [2004-08-29 02:08:55 +0000 UTC]

Looks way cool, due to the fact that it's probably so damn minimalistic, yet the texture of the caterpillar is something else..

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the-twinz [2004-02-14 17:36:38 +0000 UTC]

verry nice photo. I like the idea of having it on a leaf. Kinda reminds me of the hungry catapiller (sp?) Its really cute
Candi

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paperclip [2004-02-12 21:12:08 +0000 UTC]

I love this.

I raised one of these guys...except mine was a yellow wooly bear. I named it Turnip (don't ask why...I was a strange kid), and kept it in a box over the winter. I remember that a spider found its way into the box and I was crushed...I was sure that the spider would make an instant meal of the cocooned caterpillar. But, being too afraid of the spider to kill it, I left the box in the garage untouched and forgot about it.

Come spring, I found the box sitting on a shelf, saw it was empty save for the cocoon (which now sported a hole in it, which I somehow failed to notice at first), and went to throw it out. When I went to open the door, there was a beautiful white moth waiting there as if to say "All right, let me out."

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littleredelf In reply to paperclip [2004-02-13 03:01:21 +0000 UTC]

what a wonderful story!
thank you for sharing that with me . . .
i don't care much if people comment directly
i think images do more if they conjure
a memory of one's own.

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OceanStorme [2004-02-12 17:56:20 +0000 UTC]

Awww...so cute! We call 'em fuzzy wuzzies. I love this shot, it's simply and lovely. Excellent work!

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Karma021 [2004-02-07 23:14:01 +0000 UTC]

Its a beautiful shot...
That caterpillar is awsome, that red looks great... is it venomous ¿? you know for othe animal that wants to eat it...
they say that bright colours are a sign of that...any how is beautiful ^^
its going to my favs

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littleredelf In reply to Karma021 [2004-02-10 02:05:56 +0000 UTC]

not venomous per se, but . . .
check my previous comment
it explains a bit about the warnings
for the furry variety.

thank you very much for your comment
and for your

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joakim [2004-01-27 15:23:02 +0000 UTC]

This is awesome! I love the entire idea, and it's really beautifully made! I have a friend who is quite the nutter when it comes to insects, spiders, snakes, and animals of most sorts.. but I never have the guts to ask him if I can shoot somethin' of the beauties he has in his home

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scel92 [2003-12-06 12:52:56 +0000 UTC]

amazing. thats only printer paper? it looks so, well, it looks like the wooly bear is in a world of its own, a sort of nowhere. great job

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intoxik8 [2003-11-22 14:59:49 +0000 UTC]

wow, such a gorgeous shot and so crisp, clean and professional looking.

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piqueassiette [2003-11-17 10:06:03 +0000 UTC]

At first I thought it was a sweet chestnut. Brrrrr I nearly ate it! I like this stripped photograph, it produces a very nice effect.

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SCHIMPANSEN [2003-11-17 01:38:57 +0000 UTC]

sweet

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getcarter [2003-11-12 17:17:40 +0000 UTC]

sweet and lovley!

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whatysiwyg [2003-11-12 11:07:41 +0000 UTC]

Simple, clean.. looks so lovely... good job!! *

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thirdhandsaucer [2003-11-04 15:19:07 +0000 UTC]

that is beautiful, very simplistic, great shot,
-thirdhandsaucer

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glowing [2003-10-29 22:03:50 +0000 UTC]

This is GORGEOUS!!! And thank you SO much for telling us HOW you took the picture!!!!

+FAV!!!!

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juangriego [2003-10-28 16:37:00 +0000 UTC]

your nature are amazing

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joecoopdog [2003-10-27 22:31:03 +0000 UTC]

now your a caterpillar butterfly doctor O ohh myyy now this is how you manage to get the wonderful pictures, they actually come to you to get all patched up you know I dunno if I like your comments and accompaniments more or the pictures, you always have some really deep insight and I never really have to leave wondering, like you just fully express the feelings between pictures and words, and its like you have given away a part of yourself what a treasure to find here, and that little black fuzzzy thing in the leaf well my oh myyy a mean winter? are you sure LOL, hmmmmm well we had a super bad infestation this year, they ate every leaf off of every tree in about a 20 mile radius or more over here, it was amazing, little monsters ate it all, even started eating evergreens if you can believe that, and I imagine those are not good for them, anwhos I babbled off the subject here wonderful post and wonderful comments yet again and OC I loved it ,
kindest regards,
joe

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gregus [2003-10-23 09:17:21 +0000 UTC]

good use of available materials for a set looks like photoshop or seamless paper...

keep on pushin

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littleredelf In reply to gregus [2003-10-27 00:23:14 +0000 UTC]

yup HP Bright White Paper
as described HERE

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serpentgfx [2003-10-21 07:15:00 +0000 UTC]

great thing to focusing the appropriate image... nice

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isnifpixistix [2003-10-21 00:51:49 +0000 UTC]

the Wooly Bear Caterpillar wants to be my best friend. let him come to me!

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jezebe11e [2003-10-20 23:32:03 +0000 UTC]

So cute

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loreena [2003-10-20 15:19:50 +0000 UTC]

I like it

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hungryabuser [2003-10-19 02:49:07 +0000 UTC]

aww it's so cute! but if i saw it in real life, i'd probably freaj out lol :S

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stranj [2003-10-18 23:44:43 +0000 UTC]

i love how clear his hair is. he looks as if he's sleepin'! i used to love holding catipillars when i was little...

omg....this is another +fav!!!

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marushinu [2003-10-18 21:04:01 +0000 UTC]

heh, I like caterpillars! Very nice moth!

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elkciter [2003-10-18 07:13:22 +0000 UTC]

Wonderful presentation. I'm swept away!

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dragonslairnz [2003-10-18 05:05:29 +0000 UTC]

Gorgeous as all your photos are! I just love the pure white background, makes it look so lonely curled up in its little leaf. Hey, what can I say that others haven't, eh? LOL. I love this shot!

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falanga [2003-10-17 13:46:36 +0000 UTC]

It is very cute ! Nice shot !

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gracewithin [2003-10-17 12:25:54 +0000 UTC]

AW! I LOVE this shot! I love those guys. They are so freaking cute! +fav definitely.

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satirick [2003-10-17 09:07:20 +0000 UTC]

Hahaha thats funny & really cool shot! nice work

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milkbox [2003-10-16 22:05:42 +0000 UTC]

Very endearing. I love the composition and lighting.
Beautiful creature... I want one (seriously)

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BNW [2003-10-16 19:28:35 +0000 UTC]

cute!
reminds me of the time i raised to butterflies as a kid... we used to have tonns of them back then. strange though.. it seems like there are less and less butterflies around as the time passes. i havent seen any in ages anymore.

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brightsoul [2003-10-16 15:02:00 +0000 UTC]

Lovely


peace
Francis

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carrie-san [2003-10-16 07:09:50 +0000 UTC]

oh wow, this brings me right back to Fuzzy,who was a catterpillar i took care of when i was younger. he looked alot like this,actually. I've never heard of anyone seriously raising caterpillars, i like the concept. that's really a cool idea.

but onto the picture.

it's fabulous, the adorable fuzzy caterpillar all rolled up on it's little leaf..it contrasts beautifully with the white background ..it's really pretty in general. and .. it's a caterpillar. gotta love catterpillars!

I love this picture a bunch, I think i'll fav it

*fav*

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qwerty-dot-me [2003-10-16 06:46:50 +0000 UTC]

The beginning is a delicated time,
You captured the essence

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kristinchick [2003-10-16 00:56:17 +0000 UTC]

Aaaawww

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aeonmistress [2003-10-16 00:13:20 +0000 UTC]

Great description, could fit in any biology book you'd like

What kind of leaf is this caterpillar resting on? Just curious, it looks almost like Birch to me... o_o

Anyway, great composition! ^_^

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insaneone [2003-10-15 22:52:46 +0000 UTC]

ur raising it? nice shot love it in fact

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transic [2003-10-15 19:36:31 +0000 UTC]

Wow, that's huge! Nice shot. You seem to know a lot about this particular caterpillar. :b

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livedead [2003-10-15 06:35:24 +0000 UTC]

That is one awesome photo.100% Kick Ass!!! for sure!!

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boomslice [2003-10-15 04:24:30 +0000 UTC]

Raising caterpillars? Damn. You're like the outdoor Martha Stewart!

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littleredelf In reply to boomslice [2003-10-15 04:57:15 +0000 UTC]

thanks

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