Woolly bear caterpillars, often seen crawling on porches, are rumored to have something up their sleeves in terms of forecasting winter weather.

Meteorologist Ryan Argenti from Hearst sister station WGAL reveals the truth about these caterpillars. Advertisement

Woolly bear caterpillar folklore

These caterpillars are hairy creatures featuring brown and black colors.

Folklore says if these caterpillars have more black than brown color, you can expect harsh winter conditions.

If there is more brown than black colors, you can expect a mild winter.

The 13 segments on its body correspond to the 13 weeks of winter.

Truth behind the folklore

The woolly bear caterpillar cannot forecast the upcoming winter conditions

The coloring on the caterpillar is based on feeding habits, age, and spec

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