Webs in Live Oak: Fall Webworms or Bark Lice?

Large live oak full of webs—not on bark. Two possibilities:

1. Fall Webworms

• Webs enclose leaves/twigs; caterpillars inside.
• Late summer/fall; cosmetic damage.
• Control: open webs for predators, prune tips, Bt/sprays.
• Population cycles; may be gone now.

2. Bark Lice (Psocids)

• Fine silvery webbing on trunk/large limbs (not twigs/leaves).
• Scavengers eating lichens, fungi, debris.
• Beneficial; no control needed.
• Blast with hose if webbing objectionable.

ID Tip

Webs on leaves/twigs → webworms. Webs on bark only → bark lice. Neither kills trees.