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IPM Scouting in Woody Landscape Plants

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Fall webworm - Hyphantria cunea
IPM scouting in woody landscape plants > fall webworm
Fall webworms feed on at least 88 different species of plants in the U.S. Favorite host plants include black walnut, wild cherry, hickory, crabapple and birch. Larvae pass through as many as 11 instars on their way to developing into adults. They create silken tents on the ends of the branches. Look for developing larvae as goldenrods begin to bloom. Webworms have many natural enemies including birds, predaceous bugs and parasitic wasps. Leaving the webs intact allows populations of their natural enemies to develop

Management: Because they occur so late in the growing season, there is usually no need to control webworm. Unsightly webs can be pruned out or dislodged with a strong stream of water. Unlike eastern tent caterpillars, these caterpillars stay in the web while feeding, so pruning the webs at any time of day will eliminate them.
Fall webworm Fall webworm
Young larvae developing on a walnut leaf. Fall webworms create silken tents on the ends of the branches.
Webworms have many natural enemies including birds, predaceous bugs and parasitic wasps. Leaving the webs intact allows populations of their natural enemies to develop.
Additional information
This information was developed from A Pocket IPM Scouting Guide for Woody Landscape Plants by Diane Brown-Rytlewski. Purchase this in a pocket-sized guide for reference in the orchard from MSU Extension (publication E-2839).
The MSU IPM Program maintains this site as an access point to pest management information at MSU. The IPM Program is administered within the Department of Entomology, fueled by research from the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station, delivered to citizens through MSU Extension, and proud to be a part of Project GREEEN.
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Updated 10/08/07