woolly bear

American  

noun

1. the caterpillar of any of several moths, as a tiger moth, having a dense coat of woolly hairs.

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woolly bear British  

noun

1. the caterpillar of any of various tiger moths, esp Arctia caja of Europe and Isia isabella of North America, having a dense covering of soft hairs

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Etymology

Origin of woolly bear

First recorded in 1835–45

Example Sentences

According to the legend, the more black setae—long prickly hairs—found on a woolly bear, the harsher the coming winter will be.

From National Geographic

In the Midwest and Northeast, the woolly bear caterpillar is sometimes used to predict the severity of an upcoming winter.

From New York Times

The actor is unrecognizable under a bald cap, mustache and bushy sideburns that look like a family of woolly bear caterpillars have colonized his head, a paunchy fat suit and pudgy facial prosthetics.

From Washington Post

An insect “antifreeze” — made of sugars, proteins and alcohol — is produced by the insects internally and circulates in their blood, helping woolly bears survive temperatures far below zero degrees.

From Washington Post

In creatures such as insects, the ability to self-medicate is almost certainly innate; woolly bear caterpillars infected with parasitic flies seek out and eat plant substances that are toxic to the flies.

From Scientific American