Defoliators
> Eastern Tent Catepillar
Pest: Eastern Tent Caterpillar (Malacosoma americanum
(Fabricius))
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Lasiocampidae
Host Plants:
Primarily found on species of Malus and Prunus
but it sometimes feeds on other deciduous trees. Common hosts are
ornamental crabapples and cherries.
Description:
This tent maker initiates and gradually enlarges its web in
the crotches of the branches of its host. On warm, sunny days, the
caterpillars will emerge from the web, which is used mostly for
thermal protection on cold spring nights, and feed on the expanding
foliage. Often, there will only be one tent per plant and not all
similar plants within close proximity will be affected. Damage can
range from light to heavy defoliation depending on the size of the
tree attacked and the number of webs per tree. The caterpillars
are dark, moderately hairy, and have a distinctive white stripe
going down the length of their backs. At maturity, the larvae are
1 1/2" - 2" long. They resemble the larvae of the
Forest Tent Caterpillar, which has white "keyhole"
or "footprint" markings down the length of its back, and
not the white stripe.
Life Cycle:
The adult moths appear in late June to early July and are rarely
recognized due to their innocuous appearance and short life span.
After mating, the female will lay a batch of eggs, about one inch
long, around the stems of 2-3 year old branches (primarily). These
egg masses are covered with a shiny black material and house upwards
to 350 eggs. These eggs will over-winter and hatch soon after budbreak
on the host plant. The caterpillar stage lasts about 5-6 weeks.
Management Strategies:
During the winter and prior to budbreak, susceptible hosts can
be monitored for the presence of egg masses, which can be pruned
out and destroyed. Also, newly forming webs in the spring can be
pruned out or physically removed by hand, when the larvae are in
the web. One should not use fire to burn out these webs; this can
cause much greater injury to the host than this pest ever could.
Bacillus thuringiensis (B.t) works well, especially on the
younger larvae. Insecticidal soaps are effective on the younger
caterpillars and should be applied only when the caterpillars are
out of the tent and on the stems and foliage in order to achieve
proper coverage. Many chemical insecticides are also labeled for
this pest.
Images:
| 
An egg mass of the eastern tent caterpillar that is wrapped
around a small stem of the host plant. (UMass Entomology Dept.
teaching collection).
Two similar caterpillars: the one on the top is the eastern
tent caterpillar (note the white stripe). The caterpillar
on the bottom is the Forest tent caterpillar (note the white
"foot print" markings). R. Childs)
A newly forming web of the eastern tent caterpillar. (R. Childs)
Eastern tent caterpillar larvae clustered on their web. (R.
Childs)
|
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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