10/06/2026
For generations, people have looked at the stripes of the woolly worm and tried to read the winter ahead.
The old folklore says that more orange means a milder winter, while more black is supposed to signal a harsher one.
It’s a fun autumn tradition, but there’s no reliable scientific evidence that a woolly worm can actually forecast the weather months in advance. Its coloring is influenced by factors such as age, development, and environmental conditions rather than a secret ability to predict winter.
Still, that hasn’t stopped people from checking these little caterpillars every fall.
So if you spot a woolly worm this season, take a look at its stripes and make your prediction.
🐛🟠 More orange? Mild winter?
🐛⚫ More black? Harsh winter?
