Eastern Tent Caterpillar
Caterpillar
Egg mass
The Eastern Tent Caterpillar attacks crabapples and cherries. They build ugly “tents” in the crotches of tree branches to shelter themselves from the cold and will come out to feed on emerging foliage on sunny days in the mid-late spring.
A heavy infestation can defoliate young trees, causing permanent damage, and making the tree more susceptible to the other many insects and diseases that like these plants.
During the winter, a close look at the small branches in trees infested during the past season will have black, shiny egg masses, which are pretty apparent and can be pruned off to reduce the population for the coming season.
