Defoliators
Defoliators are those insects that physically consume the foliage
of their host plant. Those insects that feed internally within the
host, such as leaf miner and shoot borers, will be found in those
specific categories, and not here.
In much of the Northeastern United States, the insects that defoliate
trees and shrubs are mostly found in just three categories: lepidoptera
(butterfly and moth) caterpillars, hymenoptera (sawfly) caterpillars,
and the coleoptera (beetles), which can include both the immatures
and adults.
Defoliation can occur in several different. The most classic example
is for all of the foliage to be consumed. However, some defoliators
only scrape the foliage and leave each leaf intact but such feeding
causes leaf browning (death). This is known as skeletonizing. Others
consume all but the veins, thus giving the leaf a lace-like appearance;
this is also skeletonizing. Lastly, such pests as sawfly caterpillars,
on deciduous hosts, typically consume all but the main veins of
leaflets and leaves. Recognizing the pattern of defoliation can
often aid in the identification of the pest when only the injury
remains on the host plant.
Defoliators
index:
Armyworm
Asiatic Garden Beetle 
Bagworm
Cankerworms
2006
Caterpillar Update
Eastern Tent
Caterpillar
Fall Webworm
Forest Tent Caterpillar
Gypsy Moth
Japanese Beetle
Larch Casebearer
Lily
Leaf Beetle
- Courtesy of URI Extension
Mimosa Webworm
Viburnum Leaf Beetle
Winter
Moth - ID & Management
UPDATED! Winter
Moth Overview
Winter
Moth Project - Biological Control in MA
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