With the arrival of beautiful spring days, new leaves emerge on trees and Eastern Tent Caterpillars emerge from eggs and begin feeding on the new foliage. Their favorite hosts include Crabapple, Apple and Cherry trees, along with many other shade and fruit tree varieties. The path of destruction created by the Eastern Tent Caterpillar can defoliate an entire tree, making the tree susceptible to other diseases and problems.
The Eastern Tent Caterpillar eggs hatch in spring and the larvae build nests in the branches of their host tree. The larvae normally feed on new leaf growth on bright, sunny days. The new caterpillars are ordinarily fully grown by late spring and the adult moths emerge in mid-summer. The Eastern Tent Caterpillars are hairy, black and have a white stripe down their backs. Additional characteristics include a series of blue dots between yellow lines on their body.
It’s important to identify and treat the trees before the caterpillar population becomes high. If in doubt, contact the Plant Health Care Department at KTS to discuss your concerns. Treatment methods and identification can be discussed at that time. While it is a nuisance, Eastern Tent Caterpillars are very manageable.