Any of more than 3,500 species (family Arctiidae) of moths , many with furry or hairy larvae called woolly bears.
Most adults have a thick body and white, orange, or green wings. At rest, the wings are folded rooflike over the body. The fall webworm ( Hyphantria cunea ) is a serious pest. The caterpillars construct webs over leaves, sometimes covering large areas with silken sheets. They pupate aboveground in a cocoon made of larval hairs and silk. The Isabella tiger moth ( Isia isabella ) attains a wingspan of 1.52 in. (3750 mm). Black spots mark its abdomen and yellow wings.