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Independence County
Agriculture
Household Pests - Fall Webworm (Hyphantria cunea)
Fall webworms start with small webs near the ends of branches. The
caterpillars remain inside the webbing and as food runs low they gradually
increase the size of the web to enclose more and more leaves. The largest webs
and heaviest damage is seen in the fall and that’s when they’re typically
noticed. The caterpillars feed on leaf material and leave the stems and veins
behind. Because the damage is done at the end of the growing year, little real
damage is done to most trees. The trees have already stored their energy for the
fall and will start to lose their leaves soon anyway. High populations of fall
webworm can completely defoliate trees but since they don’t kill them control is
optional. Fall webworms feed on mulberry, hickory, pecan, oak, willow, redbud
and many other types of trees.
Fall webworm moths emerge from their cocoons in late spring and deposit white;
"cottony" egg masses on the undersides of leaves. The caterpillar, or webworm,
is pale yellow or greenish in color, and is covered with long white hairs. The
caterpillar doesn’t sting; but the hairs can cause an irritating rash if
touched. Webworm caterpillars and moths are active at night when most of their
predators (wasps, birds) are inactive.
In some situations, homeowners may want to control webworms. Chemical control
can be difficult especially on tall trees because the webworms stay inside the
web and it’s hard to penetrate. Tearing open the webs with a pole will allow
wasps, hornets and birds access to enter the webs and feed on the webworms.
Wasps, hornets, and birds, if given the opportunity, will reduce webworm
populations quite handily with just a minimum of assistance from you. If the
webs are totally out of your reach, try using a jet spray nozzle on your water
hose. Possibly the force of the water will be strong enough to tear a hole in
the web.
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