Fall Webworms

Fall webworms spin webs on various ornamental and flowering trees during late July through October. Caterpillars are greenish yellow with lots of hair and black dots and feed on leaves. As feeding continues, the silken web enlarges to cover the area to be eaten.

Most insecticides will not penetrate the silken tent or net. The tent needs to be broken before the chemical is applied.

Another control method is to remove the branch and destroy the nest.

Fall webworms will fall to the ground and pupate during the winter. Damage to trees is minimal and most plants re-leaf the following spring.

See: Bagworms, Eastern tent caterpillar