Camping season is over for these tent caterpillars
By Joanie
@Freelanzer (10745)
Canada
August 27, 2017 11:32am CST
They built their tents on my fruit trees and I let them be. I mistakenly thought they were spiders and serving the useful purpose of getting rid of harmful bugs. But when I saw a news feature on my local news that talked about a tent caterpillar invasion in our city, I had ha ha moment.
Tent caterpillars lay their eggs in the trees and live under a secure formidable silk tent. The one pictured is about 18 inches long and about 10 inches at the widest point. They can cause damage to the host tree. So sadly, I must remove them. For these critters, camping season is over.
5 people like this
4 responses
@JudyEv (325759)
• Rockingham, Australia
20 Feb 18
Just came across this in the sidebar and your tent caterpillars look very like these we saw when we were touring near Horrocks Beach, Western Australia. I found them pretty gross really - just the fact that there were so many. Ugh!
1 person likes this
@Freelanzer (10745)
• Canada
21 Feb 18
Probably the same sort of thing. Not only do they look gross but they mess up the whole landscape.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325759)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 Feb 18
@Freelanzer I'm usually okay with grubs, insects, etc but these freaked me out a bit.
@JohnRoberts (109857)
• Los Angeles, California
27 Aug 17
That's creepy. I would want rid of that.
1 person likes this
@Freelanzer (10745)
• Canada
27 Aug 17
I wonder if the silk tent is good for anything. Yes creepy is the word.
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@TiarasOceanView (70035)
• United States
27 Aug 17
Oh what a shame but you have to as you say remove them yes.
1 person likes this
@Freelanzer (10745)
• Canada
27 Aug 17
Yes I do. I will just cut off the branch that they are on, otherwise I won't have a fruit tree next year.
2 people like this
@Freelanzer (10745)
• Canada
27 Aug 17
Yes they are and apparently they are sociable creatures from what I read, but unfortunately they are also destructive.
1 person likes this
