Host Plants:
On Crops: Apples, cherries, pears, and many other trees
Where Found:
North America and Europe
Description:
In spring, dense tent-like webs appear in branch crotches of apple, cherry or other host trees. Inside the webs, dark-colored caterpillars group together in tight masses and venture out to feed on leaves in warm weather. Webs that are seen in hardwood trees in late summer and fall are made by a different pest, called fall webworms.
Damage:
Feeding by the caterpillars removes all of the leaves on some branches. However, the damage occurs so early in the season that the trees may grow new leaves to replace those lost to tent caterpillars.
Preventing Problems:
In midsummer, the adult form of this pest, a downy beige moth, lays egg masses on host trees. These are dark globs that often encircle small branches, and they have a glossy finish, as if they had been varnished. Clipping off these egg masses during routine pruning is the best way to limit the number of colonies you see the following spring. The eggs hatch very early, often before blossoms are open, and the bristly black caterpillars huddle together for warmth.
Managing Outbreaks:
The webs made by tent caterpillars function as greenhouses that help these early-season feeders stay warm, so disturbing the web puts substantial stress on the colony. You can poke holes in the tents with a stick or long-handled apple picker, and then twist to gather up caterpillars and webbing.
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