Arctic woolly-bear caterpillars are fascinating creatures. Before transforming into moths, they spend most of their life frozen solid like Hans Solo in The Empire Strikes Back. When the upper Artic winter chill starts, the caterpillar takes refuge under a rock where he will nonetheless freeze like a little hairy popsicle.
In fact, Arctic woolly-bear caterpillars spend 90% of their lives frozen! The resilient little creature survives by producing natural anti-freeze that keeps it alive in temperatures up to -60 degrees centigrade. This amazing adaptation helps the Arctic woolly-bear avoid exploding from the inside like a cracked ice cube.
Then after fourteen years of being practically dead most of the year, this superbug turns into a moth and simply flies away. Incredible!
I hope he flies somewhere a little warmer.
Gynaephora groenlandica
In fact, Arctic woolly-bear caterpillars spend 90% of their lives frozen! The resilient little creature survives by producing natural anti-freeze that keeps it alive in temperatures up to -60 degrees centigrade. This amazing adaptation helps the Arctic woolly-bear avoid exploding from the inside like a cracked ice cube.
Then after fourteen years of being practically dead most of the year, this superbug turns into a moth and simply flies away. Incredible!
I hope he flies somewhere a little warmer.
Gynaephora groenlandica
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