45 Myths and Old Wives Tales People Still Believe Even Though They Have Been Debunked Long Ago

The belief that the length of winter can be predicted by the bands on woolly bear caterpillars is a charming but scientifically unfounded urban legend. According to this myth, the wider the brown bands on the woolly bear caterpillar, the milder the upcoming winter will be. Conversely, thinner brown bands suggest a harsher winter.

This belief likely originated in rural areas where folk wisdom and nature observations played a significant role in predicting weather patterns. However, there’s no evidence to support this caterpillar’s predictive abilities regarding winter weather. The width of the bands on woolly bear caterpillars is related to their age and growth more than any accurate forecast of seasonal weather.