Learn how to get rid of woolly bear caterpillars naturally when one enters your home without your consent. Know everything related to these caterpillars in their life cycle and how dangerous they are for your life. Find out if the insect is dangerous to your life and how it would affect you if you allow yourself to be bitten by them.
Learn a little more about these beautiful caterpillars and the whole process they go through to turn into a moth. Find out if the insect hibernates and where you can find them inside your home or outside areas. Take professional pest control advice on how to prevent woolly bear caterpillars on plants.
What are woolly bear caterpillars?
Woolly bear caterpillars are insects that you can see throughout your life in different parts of your garden or house. They are insects with a padded appearance because their bodies are surrounded by hairs distinguished in two colors. Their pseudonym is attributed to their appearance; they are not very dangerous for your body but a great nuisance if it creates an infestation.
These brightly colored insects are on the lookout for many cultures because they think they predict the weather. Some people see the colors in their hair that the longer the red stripe is, the winter is warm. This theory may be true because the insect is born and changes its wings in winter.
The life cycle of woolly bear caterpillars
You can observe how the caterpillars are present in the summer season by taking the winter to hibernate. The insect reproduces twice a year in the summer, leaving its larvae very hidden for the winter. As caterpillars that have not developed their wings, they will feed on the leaves that fall on the fall trees.
For the winter, the caterpillars usually winter, as they are so tiny and they are outside, they can freeze in all this type. Their body emits a protective cryo, which is antifreeze so that they can survive these temperatures. When the pupal caterpillar does not need to hibernate for the next season, it will have wings, antennae, and very large size.
Are woolly bear caterpillars dangerous?
You should not fear for woolly bear caterpillars and their furry appearance because they are not dangerous in any way. They do not have toxins in their hair that can be irritating to the touch if, at some point, you touch them without realizing it. Something that can happen is that you have very sensitive skin where touching its pointed hair irritates your skin.
For your children, caterpillars can be beautiful due to the presence of red-orange and black colors in their appearance. When they turn into moths, they can be somewhat intimidating and more so when they enter your house without the intention of leaving.
Do woolly bear caterpillars hibernate?
This class’s caterpillars do hibernate to develop into moths, which would be their last phase in their entire life. The hibernation time is very long, where they take the opportunity to wrap themselves in their cocoon. They do this in logs around your house or in a tree with a hole to hide.
These insects tend to withstand low temperatures because their body produces a legally effective antifreeze. In most hibernation, they will remain almost frozen, their metabolism slows, and you will practically think they are dead. As the temperature rises at the arrival of summer, the caterpillar will be able to emerge from its cocoon with its wings and antennae developed.
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Where to find woolly bear caterpillars?
You can find woolly bear caterpillars on logs that you have cut and discarded around your home. When they enter their hibernation stage, their safety is a priority, so they will try to hide in the safest area. The caterpillar can enter your house. If you leave it free access, it will hibernate there.
Hollow trees can also be another place where caterpillars can nest and remain throughout their lives. They are very passive insects that are very prone to be eaten while they do not develop their wings. Their life cycle is strong because they have many predators to watch out for, from domestic animals to other large insects.
These caterpillars are infestation creators, although it can be annoying that you have a couple of them inside your home. You have to get rid of them in your house or garden if they have their nest on your property.
How to get rid of woolly bear caterpillars on plants naturally?
Some ways you can get rid of woolly bear caterpillars naturally include:
Combine the pepper with the garlic
You can create a home remedy using pepper, and garlic powder then adds a little water. You can spray caterpillars with this element and kill them in no time after they absorb it. One way to repel them is to place the liquid near your logs or trees so that they do not climb it.
You can apply a little vinegar where you suspect caterpillars are located near your house. With a few drops of the product, the smell it emits makes the insect move away from your garden and home.
Since woolly bear caterpillars’ attraction is the logs or debris, you should remove them from your home now. You can organize these elements in another area where the caterpillars do not enter and try to hibernate there.
We remove manually
To prevent the plague from reaching your home, you can remove them manually and then kill them if you like. Their fur will not cause an allergic reaction on your skin when you come into contact with it.
You can use gloves if you are not sure about the sensitivity of your skin. You can put the insect in a container and kill them.
How to prevent woolly bear caterpillars on plants?
For you to prevent woolly bear caterpillars on your plants, you should take some tips:
Apply vinegar to your plants
You can confidently spray your plants in vinegar to prevent caterpillars from eating your leaves in the day. As the smell is strong, the caterpillar will lose interest in your plants and will move to another area where it can eat.
Diatomaceous earth is a natural repellent for all types of insects that will not dry out or affect your plants in any way. You can buy this product in various stores in your city at an affordable price and simple ways of use.
Prune your trees
The main target of woolly bear caterpillars is the leaves of the tree, and if you have a huge one, they may be attracted to it. You can prune the tree, clean the leaves, and not leave any garbage that is food for the insect.
Don’t forget to remove the debris
You should remove pieces of logs close to your plants because this may be the ideal nest for caterpillars. Try to remove them and place them in a safe place where no insects like this have access.