Sign In   |  My Account


Best Value Concentrates

 

Aphids - Garden Insect Library - Saferbrand

Tent Caterpillars

Are tent caterpillars taking over your tree?? Are they squeezing the life right out of them? Take back control of your tree and prevent your tree from being infected with Safer Brand.

 

This page will inform you about what tent caterpillars look like, how to identify damage, and most of all, how to get rid of them....organically. Safer® Brand Garden Dust powered by B.T. is a great product to eliminate your problem.

 

 

 

 

So... What's a Tent Caterpillar?

Adult tent caterpillar moths are usually tan or brownish in color with a wingspan reaching up to 1 1/2".

 

The larvae are black with rows of white dots or stripes the length of its body. They appear to be covered in short hairs and reach up to 2 1/2" in length.

 

The eggs are laid en masse in a shiny wrapping that surrounds a tree branch or twig.  These masses can contain up to 350 eggs.

 

 

 

 

Reproduction Patterns of Tent Caterpillars

Female moths deposit their eggs in the middle of summer. The eggs overwinter on the branch or twig and hatch in the beginning of spring.

 

Each emerging caterpillar moves to another branch and begins spinning its own protective silk tent. The caterpillars feed on nearby leaves in the daytime, returning to their nest when finished. They will continue in this manner for the next month or two until they are ready to pupate.

 

Tent moth

During the next phase of its life cycle, the tent caterpillar will leave the nest and find an appropriate trunk or plant debris on which to spin its own cocoon. You can prevent damage by eliminating the problem with a product such as Safer® Brand Garden Dust powered by B.T.

 

After 10 days to two weeks or so, the adults emerge as moths and the cycle continues.  The tent caterpillar only has one generation per year.

 

 

 

 

Tent Caterpillar's Habitat

Found throughout the United States and Canada.  Prefers trees and shrubs of the hardwood deciduous variety, particularly apple, peach, plum, sugar maple, oak, elm, sweetgum, cottonwood, willow, oak, ash and wild cherry.

 

Widely recognized by their webbed or silk tent structures, these destructive insect pests can cause much damage in a short time.

 

 

 

 

Images courtesy of Oklahoma State University and Forestry Images.
For a complete list of content sources please visit our site bibliography page

 

 

Safer®Brand brings you a variety of effective insect control products that are gentler on the environment! Most of them proudly display the OMRI Listed® organic seal and comply for use in organic gardening!

 

organic gardening products with the OMRI listed seal

 

 

 

Shop Safer Brand



Learn the Difference between Organic and Natural


RELATED PRODUCTS

8 oz
$7.58
(2)
Eligible for FREE Shipping
FREE 50 oz sprayer
$24.99
(1)
Eligible for FREE Shipping

DrTsNatureProducts.com   |  
Birdfeeders.com   |  
ZarebaSystems.com   |  
HavahartWireless.com   |  
AvantGardenDecor.com   |  
MosquitoMagnet.com   |  
Victorpest.com   |  
Fishock.com   |  
Havahart.com