There are two web-spinning caterpillars in our region, the eastern tent caterpillar and the fall webworm. The placement of the webbing on the tree will help identify which caterpillar is present.
The eastern tent caterpillar is active in the spring and typically spins a web in the crotch of fruit tree branches, such as wild black cherry and apple trees. The fall webworm becomes active in early summer and spins a web around leaves on the outer branches of trees, and this webbing is seen throughout the growing season. Fall webworms are typically found on pecan, sourwood, persimmon, hickory, sycamore, and fruit trees.
Eastern tent caterpillar early instar larvae in tent.
Tim Tigner, Virginia Department of Forestry, Bugwood.org
Fall webworm (Hyphantria cunea) adult laying eggs on a pecan leaf.
H C Ellis, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org
Fall webworm webbing opened to reveal a group of early-to-mind instar larvae.
G. Keith Douce, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org
The fall webworm overwinters in mulch or soil as a pupa in a cocoon. The adult fall webworm moth emerges in the spring and begins laying masses of eggs on the underside of leaves. Young caterpillars start by feeding on the surface of the leaves. As the caterpillars mature, entire leaves are devoured. The caterpillars spin webs around the leaves they feed on to protect themselves from predators. The webbing starts out small but grows to include fresh leaves as the caterpillars grow. Their damage is generally only cosmetic (or unslightly) to healthy trees.
Fall webworm web enclosing pecan foliage.
H C Ellis, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org
If management is desired and the webbing is accessible from ground level, it can be removed with a pole. Even just breaking up the webbing makes the caterpillars more vulnerable to their natural enemies, such as birds, stink bugs, and wasps. If an insecticide is chosen, be sure to apply it when the caterpillars are small and more vulnerable. Insecticides containing Bacillis thuringiensus (Bt) or spinosad are safer to apply, effective, and are less toxic to beneficial insects. Insecticides should be applied to the foliage closest to the webbing. As always, follow label directions.
For additional information, see Fall Webworms.
