What do wooly bear caterpillers eat?

Answer 1

There are lots of "woolly" or fuzzy caterpillars out there. Without knowing which species you're talking about, it's impossible to tell you what they eat. The most common "woolly" caterpillar that most people think of is the "woolly bear" or "woolly worm" which is the caterpillar of the Isabella Tiger Moth. They're usually black at both ends with a rusty-red section in the middle, though they can be all red or all black. If you've got something different, try an entymology website to identify it. For care of a real woolly bear, read on:

If you catch one in the fall, it's about to go into hibernation for the winter. You should either let it go, or keep it in an airtight container in your refrigerator until springtime. It will not need any food during this time, but you should mist it with water every few days so it doesn't dry up. Once the weather gets up to around 50 degrees the next spring, you can bring it out and it will come out of hibernation on its own. When you see it moving around again, you can keep it in almost any kind of container (tupperware, jar, small aquarium). Give it an inch or two of fresh grass and clover each day, mist it with water every day (just one spray is plenty, anymore could drown it), and make sure it has a sturdy twig or stick to climb up when it's ready to pupate (make a cocoon). It will become very still and stop moving for a day or two just before this time, so don't mistake it for being dead! (A dead woolly bear will be curled up and shrivelled). Once it forms its cocoon, leave it alone once again, no food needed, just the occasional spritz of water. In 1 to 3 weeks your new tiger moth will emerge! Allow it several hours to stretch its wings (don't touch it or move it during this time) and then release it to the wild. Adult tiger moths don't eat, and only live for a few weeks to mate and lay eggs, so there's no point in keeping one captive.

Answer 2

They eat leaves like all caterpillars but my caterpillar ate the middle yellow part (pollen part i guess) of the flower I put in there with him.

...My woolly bear caterpillar's favorite food is clover and a weed that grows around here (Norton Shores, Michigan) that is 5 feet tall, but has small tender leaves and tiny pink flowers that don't ever open. I will have to wait until my caterpillar turns into a moth next summer so I can tell you what it will like to eat as a moth.

Answer 3

Mostly they eat leaves and grass but sometimes pollen

Answer 4

I have a willy bear caterpillar as a pet so I know What they eat ,grass clovers ,leaves, possibly flowers and twigs THEY LOVE CLOVERS 4more info email me @cakefunwithyani@hotmail.com

Answer 5

Wooly Bear caterpillars will eat a wide variety of plants. Some of those plants are grass, milkweed, clover, and cabbage.

Answer 6

A wooly bear caterpillar tends to eat herbs and forbs. You can also feed it dandelions, lettuce leaves, and basil.

Answer 7

Wooly white caterpillars eat lots and lots of leaves. Caterpillars must eat a lot so that they can grow quickly. When they get large enough, they tuck themselves away in their cocoons.

Answer 8

Leaves ... and perhaps, grasses.

Answer 9

birds, and also some insects