# Winter emergence of larva

**URL:** <https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/winter-emergence-of-larva/59153>\
**Category:** Nature Talk\
**Created:** [December 7, 2024, 2:03pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/winter-emergence-of-larva/59153 "2024-12-07T14:03:53Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![TonyN](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5f9b8f/32.png) [@TonyN](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/TonyN)\
**Post date:** [December 7, 2024, 2:03pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/winter-emergence-of-larva/59153/1 "2024-12-07T14:03:53Z")

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Is it usual a Woolly Bear caterpillar to persistently re-emerge from winter refuge under the outside door-step to lounge on the doormat waiting to get stepped on? Again today - in cold, snowy Ontario.

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**Author:** ![Thunderhead](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/thunderhead/32/62294_2.png) [@Thunderhead](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/Thunderhead)\
**Post date:** [December 7, 2024, 2:13pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/winter-emergence-of-larva/59153/2 "2024-12-07T14:13:16Z")

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Honestly, I don’t know. I have the habit of moving them to safer leaf litter.  
Welcome to the forum!

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**Author:** ![Joeb](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/joeb/32/30383_2.png) [@Joeb](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/Joeb)\
**Post date:** [December 7, 2024, 3:40pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/winter-emergence-of-larva/59153/3 "2024-12-07T15:40:07Z")

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It was a common occurence for me last winter in Quebec, with the lack of early snow cover and temperature consistently spiking up throughout the season, I must’ve moved over 10 caterpillars in the yard that were active early through December-February.

Not to say that’s expected, annually common, or remotely good for them - but I don’t imagine our conditions will be much more favourable for them in the east this winter either.

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**Author:** ![TonyN](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5f9b8f/32.png) [@TonyN](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/TonyN)\
**Post date:** [December 10, 2024, 6:23pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/winter-emergence-of-larva/59153/4 "2024-12-10T18:23:06Z")

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Thank you - the creature was so persistent in leaving its hide-way under the front steps, and settling clear of any protection, where it could get stepped on or eaten, that after a few tries I had taken it around the back and, as you appropriately deduced, sunk it into the copious leaf litter there - haven’t seen it since. It’s actions would have perhaps made sense if it were trying to escape the warmth of the house in order to hibernate (only reason I could think of), but I don’t believe that can be the case here.  
. . . and what is the root of the deadly compunction Wooly Bears have to willy-nilly stroll across busy roads in the fall?

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**Author:** ![Thunderhead](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/thunderhead/32/62294_2.png) [@Thunderhead](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/Thunderhead)\
**Post date:** [December 10, 2024, 6:40pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/winter-emergence-of-larva/59153/5 "2024-12-10T18:40:38Z")

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Much like deer… roads?  
We sometimes forget we put the roads in the middle of their woods.

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**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/inaturalist/original/2X/7/7831452cf7f0d653ff1ffd34176334b7ef1b6a17.png) [@system](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/system)\
**Post date:** [February 8, 2025, 6:40pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/winter-emergence-of-larva/59153/6 "2025-02-08T18:40:43Z")

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Closed on February 8, 2025, 6:40pm UTC

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