Are tent caterpillars and webworms the same?

Are tent caterpillars and webworms the same?

Fall webworm webs can be found on the ends of tree branches. Your customers may think that bagworms, webworms and Eastern tent caterpillars are all names for the same insect, but it’s your job to know the difference and educate clients on when these web-weaving worms are a threat to their landscape.

What do webworm caterpillars look like?

Coloration of the webworm caterpillar varies from whitish to dark gray but is easily distinguished from tent caterpillars and other pest moths, by the coat of long white hairs covering the sides and back. The adult moths are pure white.

Are tent caterpillars and armyworms the same thing?

A native species found throughout the hardwood forests of North America, the Forest Tent Caterpillar is often wrongly called “armyworm” because of the way the caterpillars move around in mass. Armyworms are actually a different species.

How do I identify tent caterpillars?

Eastern tent caterpillars are hairy, brownish black with a light stripe down their back. Blue spots and brown-yellow lines are found along the sides of their bodies. Adult moths are usually a reddish-brown colour, but can be yellow-brown as well.

What do webworms look like in trees?

Webworm caterpillars are about an inch (2.5 cm.) long with black to reddish heads and light yellow to greenish bodies with a mottled stripe of two rows of black tubercles and tufts of long, whitish hairs. Adults appear as white moths with dark spots on their wings.

What month do tent caterpillars come out?

The life cycle of the Forest Tent Caterpillar begins in early April and runs through the end of July. The eggs begin hatching in the middle of April and continue through the middle of May. The caterpillars go through five instars (growth stages) before pupation. Each stage lasts a week to ten days.

What do tent caterpillar larvae look like?

After feeding, they return to the tent. The larvae are generally black with a white stripe down the back. On the sides of the insect there will be blue spots located between two yellowish lines. This insect pupates inside of whitish-colored cocoons that may be found on tree trunks, fences or buildings.

Do tent caterpillars turn into gypsy moths?

The tent gradually increases in size as the larva mature. Staying together in the tent allows the caterpillars to conserve heat, elevate their body temperature in order to grow more quickly during cool spring weather. The adults emerge as moths from their cocoons in late spring or early summer and then mate.

What do tent caterpillars become?

What Does The Tent Caterpillar Turn Into? All tent caterpillars turn into rather nondescript moths. Eastern and Western Tent caterpillar moths are a plain reddish brown color with blurred white stripes across the front wings. Forest tent caterpillars moths are similar but have wide brown bands.

What do tent worms look like?

Adult tent caterpillars are brown and yellowish moths with two diagonal markings on the front wings (Fig. 4). Their wingspans are about 1 inch. These moths are attracted to lights.

How do I get rid of tent caterpillars?

Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is the most effective. Since this is a selective insecticide, it kills tent caterpillars while remaining safe to other wildlife. Apply spray directly to foliage and tent worm nests.

What do tent caterpillars turn into?

Once the eastern tent caterpillar is mature, it will have a white stripe down the back. The majority of damage is done over the course of May when these caterpillars and forest tent caterpillars will chow down. The caterpillars that survive will turn into brown moths.

What does a webworm moth look like?

The adult fall webworm moth is bright white, with a hairy body. In the southern part of its range, the moth is white with dark wing spots while in the northern part of its range it is nearly always pure white (MPG 2010) and was once thought to be a separate species from the southern populations.

How long does a tent caterpillar infestation last?

Forest Tent Caterpillar Life Cycle Differs Slightly The life cycle of the Forest Tent Caterpillar begins in early April and runs through the end of July. The eggs begin hatching in the middle of April and continue through the middle of May. The caterpillars go through five instars (growth stages) before pupation.

What do tent caterpillar moths look like?

Adult eastern tent caterpillar moths are brown with 2 light-colored bands cutting across the forewing. Sometimes, the middle band between the two lines is lighter or whitish. Like others in their family, these moths are medium-sized, with thick, long scales that make them look furry.

What is the difference between gypsy moths and tent worms?

The eastern tent caterpillar has a diagnostic solid white stripe down the back, while the forest tent caterpillar has a series of keyhole-shaped spots. The gypsy moth caterpillars are also hairy, but lack the white stripe down the back or the series of keyhole-shaped spots found on the tent caterpillars.

What does the tent caterpillar moth look like?

The caterpillars have long, pale hairs; the body is mottled and striped with blue, yellow, and black, with a whitish line running down the back. The head is dark. Similar species: The closely related forest tent caterpillar (M. disstria) looks very similar, but adults have dark (not whitish) lines on the forewings.

Should I remove tent caterpillars?

It is useless to spray if the tent caterpillars have been allowed to feed and complete their development. Even so, removing the tent will eliminate the unsightliness of the tent itself. Tents are resistant to weather and will remain in the tree a long time unless they are removed.

What can I spray on tent caterpillars?