The White Ermine moth caterpillar (Spilosoma lubricipeda) is a widespread, fuzzy "woolly bear" larva. Known for their dense, bristle-like hairs, these caterpillars are unpalatable to predators and can be found foraging on a wide variety of herbaceous plants throughout Eurasia.
Physical Characteristics
Appearance: These caterpillars are distinctively lilac-brown to grey-brown and blanketed in thick, deep dark brown to reddish hairs.
Markings: They sport a conspicuous orange-yellow dorsal stripe running down the center of their backs.
Size: When fully grown, they typically measure between 30 mm and 40 mm in length.
Diet and HabitatHost Plants: They are voracious feeders that consume a broad variety of low-lying vegetation. Common favorites include stinging nettles, docks, alfalfa, dandelions, and plantains.
Habitat: Typically found in gardens, woodland edges, meadows, and hedgerows across the temperate belt of Eurasia.Key
Behavioral Facts
Defense Mechanism: When threatened, they curl tightly into a ball to protect their softer undersides. The dense hairs (setae) are slightly irritating to human skin and make them poisonous or unappetizing to birds.
Life Cycle: Caterpillars are generally active from July to September. Once they are fully grown, they spin a loose cocoon in leaf litter near the ground, where they overwinter as pupae.
