NO. 008
Moths
Cecropia moth
Red body with white bands
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NO. 011
Illustration · not shown at life size
Illustration · not shown at life sizeCaterpillars / Insect
Banded woolly bear
Pyrrharctia isabella
Black at both ends and rusty in the middle: this fuzzy caterpillar becomes an Isabella tiger moth.
Let’s look closerLittle clues
Three things to notice.
Black bristles at both ends.
Rust-colored middle band.
Becomes an Isabella tiger moth.
Out in the world
Where to look.
Around southeastern Wisconsin
Paths and yards in fall.
When to look
Look for the caterpillar on fall paths. It spends winter tucked away, then wakes again in spring.
Look closely. Leave your tiny neighbor where you found it.
A closer look
One clue is just the start.
This is the caterpillar, or larva. The rusty band can be wide or narrow, so two woolly bears may look different.
A special find can be hard to spot without being biologically rare. Encounters depend on season and habitat.
Keep exploring
Meet the neighbors.
For curious grownups, too
Read a little further.
Original summaries, with references for deeper reading.
Make a bug slide
Artwork & downloads.
- Original artworkUnmodified source PNG
- Transparent front PNG76.2 mm canvas · opaque white labels on a clear background
- Editable front SVGLarger backed labels · one fact · embedded illustration
- Reverse QR SVGConfirmed permanent destination · white backing
- Reverse QR PNGConfirmed permanent destination · white backing
Front artwork is made for a 3-inch clear disc. Revised artwork still needs a physical check. Reverse QR files use the confirmed permanent website.
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