Posts Tagged: tiger moth

The Wooly Bears of Bodega

Ever seen the wooly bear caterpillar,  Arctia virginalis, formerly known as Platyprepia virginalis? It's found in low elevations in western North America, from southern Monterey Bay, across Nevada and southern...

A wooly bear caterpillar on ice plant at Bodega Head. This insect is Arctia virginalis, formerly known as Platyprepia virginalis. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A wooly bear caterpillar on ice plant at Bodega Head. This insect is Arctia virginalis, formerly known as Platyprepia virginalis. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

In its adult stage, the wooly bear caterpillar is commonly known as Ranchman's tiger moth, Arctia virginalis. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

In its adult stage, the wooly bear caterpillar is commonly known as Ranchman's tiger moth, Arctia virginalis. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A Ranchman's tiger moth, Arctia virginalis, in a bed of Globe Candytuft, Iberis umbellata, in a Vacaville garden. The plant is a member of the mustard family. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A Ranchman's tiger moth, Arctia virginalis, in a bed of Globe Candytuft, Iberis umbellata, in a Vacaville garden. The plant is a member of the mustard family. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Gotta Love Those Woolly Bear Caterpillars

You gotta love those woolly bear caterpillars. Richard "Rick" Karban, UC Davis distinguished professor of entomology, studies them. The rest of us admire them. We usually see them in the spring along the cliffs of Bodega Head on the Sonoma coast....

A wooly bear caterpillar investigating an ice plant on Bodega Head, Sonoma County, in April 2022.(Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A wooly bear caterpillar investigating an ice plant on Bodega Head, Sonoma County, in April 2022.(Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The wooly bear caterpillar becomes a tiger moth, Arctia virginalis. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The wooly bear caterpillar becomes a tiger moth, Arctia virginalis. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

UC Davis Researchers: Wooly Bear Caterpillars Pick Winner of U.S. Presidential Campaign

Score another win for those wooly bear caterpillars. For the past three decades, wooly bear caterpillars have accurately predicted a Republican or Democrat win in the U.S. Presidential elections. This year, despite the pollsters, pundits and political...

UC Davis researchers Rick Karban (left) and his graduate student Eric LoPresti with their chart linking wooly bear caterpillars to U.S. Presidential elections. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

UC Davis researchers Rick Karban (left) and his graduate student Eric LoPresti with their chart linking wooly bear caterpillars to U.S. Presidential elections. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Close-up of U.S. Presidential election predictions (red designates Republicans and blue, Democrats).

Close-up of U.S. Presidential election predictions (red designates Republicans and blue, Democrats).

A wooly bear caterpillar on Bodega Head in 2011. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A wooly bear caterpillar on Bodega Head in 2011. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Wooly bear caterpillars eating lupine in 2008 on Bodega Head, Sonoma County. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Wooly bear caterpillars eating lupine in 2008 on Bodega Head, Sonoma County. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

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