By Brian Cutshall,
GreenevilleSun.com
Legend has it that the “woolly worm” can predict Winter weather, similar to how the groundhog “forecasts” Spring weather.
The most common “woolly worm” is
the Isabella tiger
moth's caterpillar.
Folklore says that the amount of black in the local woolly worm’s body can foretell the severity of the upcoming Winter in that geographic area.
How? A woolly worm with more black than brown supposedly indicates a harsher Winter, while more brown than black means a milder Winter.
The “low tech meteorologist” is honored in many Fall festivals, including Woolly Worm Festivals in Banner Elk, N.C. this Saturday and Sunday (Oct. 20-21) and in Beattyville, Ky. (Oct. 19-21).
Vermilion, Ohio, honored Woolly’s northern counterpart at the Woollybear Festival, held on Sept. 25, 2012.
Is the woolly worm right? Send your comments and/or
photos to webmaster@GreenevilleSun.com. We might
share them on GreenevilleSun.com.
