Michigan State University Extension
Ornamental Plants plus Version 3.0 - 00001762
11/12/99
Eastern Tent Caterpillar
Large populations of this common insect can occur at
intervals of about 10 years.
The insect overwinters as eggs which are laid in a mass on
the twigs. They hatch in the spring about the time wild
cherry leafs out. The young larvae begin to make their
nest in the crotch of a tree. The larvae leave the nest
to feed on newly expanding leaves to return when not
feeding. As the larvae grow they expand the nest. When
the larvae are full grown they look for a place to make a
cocoon. The adults emerge in early July, mate and the
female lays eggs.
The caterpillars are black but have a white stripe and a
series of blue spots running the length of the body.
Infested trees are not killed. Because the nests are
formed in the crotches of trees it is not practical to
prune them out. The nests are sometimes burned out but
such burning is often more harmful then the insect injury.
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This file was generated from data base ZZ on 01/19/00.
Data base ZZ was last revised on 11/12/99.
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