The rusty tussock moth caterpillar is quite a colorful sight, but don’t touch.

As temperatures cool over the weeks to come, everyone’s going to be bundling up in extra warm layers.

That includes local wildlife, like bears and coyotes that grow thicker coats, as well as birds whose newly-grown fall feathers provide excellent insulation.

Then there are the woolly bear caterpillars, adorably fuzzy little beings chugging right along even after many other insects have gone into hiding or died off for the year.

The caterpillars will eventually go into hibernation, and in spite of all that hair they actually freeze solid, though chemicals in their tissues keep them from sustaining damage. Once they emerge in spring, they’ll create cocoons and then emerge a few weeks later as moths. Each year may see two or three generations of these moths born, but it is only those caterpillars that hatch later in summer that will need to hibernate into the next year.

The best-known woolly bear is the Isabella tiger moth caterpillar. Most individuals are black with a wide rust-colored band in the middle, though a few may lack black on the back end. The adult moth is a yellow-brown with a few small black spots on the wings. However, it’s the caterpillar that gets the most attention, as it is supposedly able to predict what the upcoming winter will be like. If the rust band in the middle is narrow, we’re supposed to be in for a hard, cold winter.

But is there any truth to it? Not really. It’s more an indicator of the age of the caterpillar. Older ones will have a larger band, as it expands as the caterpillar eats more and grows larger. Sometimes wetter weather in summer can cause the band to be smaller, but this is a weather record rather than a projection. And a wet summer doesn’t always mean a colder winter, either. Finally, an individual caterpillar’s genes may also influence the ratio of black to brown regardless of weather conditions.

This isn’t the only species of woolly bear in our area, though. Another common sight is the Virginia tiger moth. Its fuzzy caterpillars are usually a solid color rather than striped. I’ve seen them in shades ranging from white to pale yellow to a rust red of a similar shade to the Isabella’s midsection. These transform into a lovely white moth with fuzzy shoulders.

One of the most brilliantly colored caterpillars is that of the silver-spotted tiger moth. It has a dark body with yellow spots, and tufts of reddish-colored hair, as well as a few tufts of dark hair paired along the length of the body. The adult moth is a beautiful light brown insect with white spots all over the wings, and white shoulders with brown stripes.

To make things a bit more confusing, the spotted tussock moth is also a tiger moth. As a caterpillar, it looks almost exactly like the black and brown Isabella tiger moth caterpillar. However, it has long tufts of white hair that stick out , and may also have black spots along the back.

There are a few variations, though. Some caterpillars of this species are pure white except for a line of colored spots along the back, ranging from orange to black. All will transform into cream-colored moths with reddish-brown stripes on the wings and shoulders that look something like splashes of watercolor paint.

One true tussock moth seen locally is the rusty tussock moth. Originally from Europe, it was introduced to the region some time ago. The caterpillar is rather wild-looking, with a dark body that has bright red or orange spots along the back and sides, yellow splotches or stripes near the bottom edge, several large yellow or orange fuzzy tufts on the back and a proliferation of long, tufted white hairs. The adult moth is comparatively dull, with varying shades of brown, a rust-colored trim and two small white spots on the wings.

You may be tempted to pick up or pet these cute, fuzzy caterpillars, but avoid the temptation. Those hairs can be quite irritating to the skin. Tussock moths additionally can add a toxin to the hairs on their back.

Moreover, handling these caterpillars can be a very stressful experience for them, and with a long, cold winter ahead to get through without the benefit of climate-controlled homes, they don’t need hassling on top of everything else. Admire and photograph them, then let them trundle on their way.