What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Eastern Tent Caterpillar

Posted by May 7th, 2007 at 12:00 am

Categories

Tent Caterpillars and Kin

We saw lots and lots of nests of these worms in the nooks of small trees at Bear Mountain NY. We didn’t notice them until the peaks which are around 1000 ft in altitude. They may have been at lower altitudes but we didn’t notice them there as much. Any idea what this insect is? We assumed it spins the nest so it’s maybe related to silk worms?
Ted

Hi Ted,
This is the tent of the Eastern Tent Caterpillar, Malacosoma americanum. The female lays eggs on tree branches in the fall and the egg overwinter, hatching in the spring. The caterpillars are social and spin the tent for protection.

Related Posts

  1. Tent Caterpillar, Carpenter Bee and Emerald Moth (April 21, 2006)
  2. Eastern Tent Caterpillar (May 8, 2008)
  3. Tent Caterpillars (September 23, 2005)
  4. Tent Caterpillars (May 13, 2007)
  5. Western Tent Caterpillars (May 24, 2009)

Post a Comment

You must be logged in to post a comment.