What do tent caterpillar moths eat

They may have either a red or black head. The blackheaded larvae have black spots along the back while the redheaded have orange to reddish spots. The blackheaded larvae will create a flimsy web while the redheaded larvae make a larger, more dense web. The caterpillars overwinter as pupae in cocoons that are hidden either in the bark of trees or in the soil. The moths emerge from mid-March to mid-late April.

They are satin white with brown wing spots. After mating, the female moth lays her eggs on the underside of leaves in masses of eggs. In most years, the moths of the blackheaded webworms will lay their eggs about a month before the moths of the redheaded webworms. The first generation of caterpillars start to feed sometime in mid-spring to early summer.

After feeding, they pupate in the soil and a second generation of webworms will be observed during August or September. The second generation of webworms usually causes more defoliation than the first generation. Control of all three of these pests is essentially the same. Destroying the tents, especially when the tents are small, is an effective way of getting rid of the caterpillars. The best time to do this is around dusk or early morning when the larvae are in the tent.

Burning the tents should be avoided because the fire and intense heat may damage the tree. On smaller trees, egg masses may be pruned off and destroyed. For larger trees or trees that have several nests, a spray may be needed.

Bacillus thuringiensis Bt and a number of chemical insecticides are effective against these caterpillars. If an insecticide application is made, it should be made when the larvae are small and easiest to control, not when they are full grown and have already done their damage. Malacosoma americanum moths break free of their cocoons after three weeks. Like many moths, they lack bright colors and appear almost drab. A close look reveals two parallel lines of cream across wings of tan or reddish brown.

Eastern tent caterpillars feed on the foliage of cherry, apple, plum, peach, and hawthorn trees. In years when Malacosoma americanum is abundant, the large number of caterpillars may defoliate their host trees entirely and then wander to less preferable plants to feed.

The adult moths live just a few days and do not feed. Like all butterflies and moths, eastern tent caterpillars undergo complete metamorphosis with four stages:.

Larvae emerge in early spring when temperatures tend to fluctuate. The caterpillars live communally in silken tents designed to keep them warm during cool spells. The broadside of the tent faces the sun, and caterpillars may huddle together on cold or rainy days. Before each of three daily feeding excursions, the caterpillars tend to their tent, adding silk as needed. As the caterpillars grow, they add new layers to accommodate their larger size and to move away from the accumulating waste of frass.

Eastern tent caterpillars exit en masse three times each day: before dawn, around midday, and right after sunset. As they crawl along branches and twigs in search of leaves to eat, they leave behind silk trails and pheromones.

The trails mark the path to food for their fellow tentmates. Pheromone signals alert other caterpillars to not only the presence of foliage but provide information about the quality of the food on a particular branch. This species can be a serious pest on orchard trees such as apple, cherry, peach, and plum. Crabapples and other landscaping trees may be eaten, too. Luckily, the severity of infestations is cyclical, and in many cases the defoliation is tolerated by the tree.

Young, diseased, or stressed trees, however, may be killed. Not many birds prey on eastern tent caterpillars. With their hairs and striped black and yellowish pattern — especially striking when they are grouped together in a mass — they send a visual warning of toxicity.

Indeed, the cherry leaves that they typically eat contain cyanogenic chemicals, and when disturbed, the caterpillars can vomit cyanide juices at their predators.

The caterpillars also thrash around the fore part of their bodies when disturbed, which usually causes all their neighbors to join in. The entire wriggling mass is also a predator deterrent. In years when eastern tent caterpillars are especially numerous, they can chew away most of the leaves on their host trees. This forces the tree to grow a new set of leaves, which is stressful to the tree.

Healthy, mature trees can withstand this, but if another stress occurs soon after, such as prolonged drought or disease, it could result in tree death. Eastern Tent Caterpillar Moth.

Field Guide Aquatic Invertebrates. Butterflies and Moths. Land Invertebrates. Reptiles and Amphibians. Trees, Shrubs and Woody Vines. The moth is reddish-brown with two pale stripes running diagonally across each forewing. Moths mate and females begin to lay eggs on small branches.

The eggs will hatch next spring. There is just one generation per year. The use of some products may not be legal in your state or country. Please check with your local county agent or regulatory official before using any pesticide mentioned in this publication. Eastern Tent Caterpillar. Figure 1. An eastern tent caterpillar. Insecticides are generally ineffective against mature larvae.

Biology The eastern tent caterpillar overwinters as an egg, within an egg mass of to eggs. Figure 2. Eastern tent caterpillar egg masses are wrapped around small twigs. Figure 3.