New eastern tent caterpillar video from MSU Extension
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EmailLearn how to stop the tents before they start.
The eastern tent caterpillar (Malacasoma americanum) is a native North American insect that can be found throughout the eastern United States. They range as far west as eastern Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and the Dakotas. In Michigan, they are a nuisance pest of residential landscapes and an occasional pest of commercial fruit orchards.
Eastern tent caterpillar moths lay masses of eggs on the twigs of host trees during late summer (July–August) in Michigan. In early spring (April–May), the eggs hatch and aggregations of the tiny caterpillars will begin tent building. Preferred hosts are cherry (Prunus) species, plums, crabapples or apples, but they will accept others when the preferred trees are not present.
Early intervention is the key to preventing damage from the eastern tent caterpillar in residential landscapes. In this video from Michigan State University Extension, you will learn how to identify the egg masses and caterpillars to prevent defoliation and unsightly tent building in your landscape.
Read more about eastern tent caterpillar in the article, "Eastern tent caterpillar outbreaks patchy and localized."
For comparison to similar caterpillars in Michigan, see MSU Extension Bulletin E-2299, "Comparison of the Eastern Tent Caterpillar, Forest Tent Caterpillar, and Gypsy Moth."
This work is supported by the Crop Protection and Pest Management Program [grant no 2024-70006-43569] from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
