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

While there are hundreds of woolly-looking species in Erebidae family, the most common and well-recognized woolly bear caterpillar is Pyrrharctia isabella, or the larval form of the Isabella tiger moth, says Marshall.

From National Geographic • Nov. 29, 2023

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 • Nov. 29, 2023

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 • Nov. 22, 2021

“I’d like to have one woolly bear per family,” Ms. Hoffman said.

From New York Times • Oct. 9, 2014

“Wouldn’t you rather have a nice woolly bear, though? Or a pretty doll?”

From "The Golden Compass" by Philip Pullman