Fall Webworms: Harmless Late-Season Webbing on Trees

The webs enclosing branch tips in late summer are fall webworms (Hyphantria cunea), not tent caterpillars (which appear in spring). They're common on many deciduous trees—walnut, hickory, cherry, maple, oak, and more.

What You're Seeing

• Silken tents at branch ends, expanding as caterpillars grow.
• Caterpillars: pale yellow to gray with black dots and long white hairs.
• One generation per year in most areas; two in the South.
• Feeding occurs late summer–fall, after trees have stored most reserves.

Why They're Usually Not a Problem

• Late-season defoliation doesn't significantly harm healthy trees.
• Natural enemies (wasps, birds, diseases) typically crash populations within 1–2 years.
• Webs are unsightly but temporary.

Management (If Desired)

• Prune out accessible webs and destroy them.
• Biological: Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) works on young caterpillars.
• Chemical: Spinosad or permethrin if webs are numerous on small/valuable trees. Spray into webs.
• Do nothing: Most trees recover fully next spring.

No preventive treatment needed. Monitor next year—populations fluctuate naturally.