![]() There are a row of oval blue spots on each side of the body. Eastern tent caterpillarĪppearance: The body is black and has a white stripe down its back. These three larvae or caterpillars all mature into moths and are relatively common to Michigan. There are several pesticides that might be used, but if the larvae are small, insecticidal soap is a possibility or Bacillus thuringiensis, a naturally occurring soil bacterium, can be sprayed. If damage is light and is not increasing, it is not necessary to do anything. If the tree is 50 percent or more defoliated, it is a stress for the tree. ![]() The third step is to make a decision if this requires the use of a pesticide or manual removal of the larvae. Use the identification information below to be sure which leaf-eater is your pest. One of these three caterpillars creates a web. The second step is to look for the presence or absence of webbing in the tree. Each type of larvae is only feeding for approximately five to six weeks. Leaves that have been fed on for a period of time may look like lace with veins exposed and leaf tissue stripped away. Caterpillars do not eat veins because those are tough. Leaves will have ragged holes on the edges of the leaf or next to the mid-vein. Recognizing that leaves are being eaten is the first step. Smart gardeners will be looking for several things. These three are ones you might encounter: The good news is that you may not have a problem or missing leaves most years, but on occasion, your landscape or woodland trees may play host to one of these common pests. Are these larvae or caterpillars going to be here all growing season? Will they kill my tree? These questions get answered by Michigan State University Extension horticulture educators and hotlines each spring. When new tree leaves are chewed up or completely eaten in the spring, gardeners become worried.
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