(WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Named after its fuzzy coat of fur, the Woolly Bear Caterpillar is preparing for hibernation as the colder weather approaches.
Doug Taron of the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum says these caterpillars are currently seeking refuge under fallen leaves.
"They're going to crawl in under the leaves in the leaf litter, and then they'll curl up almost like a cat curling up. That's where they're going to spend the winter,” he said.
Along with its fuzzy exterior, Dr. Taron says the caterpillar is known for its alleged weather-predicting abilities.
"There is a long-standing bit of folklore that says that the width of the brown band in the middle of the caterpillar is a predictor of how mild or severe the winter is going to be."
A wide band is said to predict a mild winter, while a narrow band predicts a severe winter. He notes that there isn't actually any evidence backing these myths up.
"Animals don't tend to predict future events, they tend to be reacting to what they're currently experiencing, and what they've already experienced for environmental events,” Taron said.
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