Experts report Eastern tent caterpillars are hatching in Central
Kentucky in increasing numbers. "Some tents are the size of
baseballs now, so they will be easy to see," said Lee Townsend,
PhD, a University of Kentucky College of Agriculture
entomologist. "Caterpillars in tents out on limbs are now
relocating and building large tents on branch angles on the main
trunks." According to Townsend, now is the time to check wild
cherry and related trees for Eastern tent caterpillar activity
to determine whether or not any management is necessary. "Tent
caterpillar populations have been gradually increasing over the
past two to three years and seem to be up again this year,"
Townsend said. "Populations vary considerably from location to
location in a county." Entomologists anticipate full-grown
larvae by the third week of April. From the end of April to the
beginning of May, caterpillars will likely leave the trees where
they’ve eaten the available foliage and search for additional
food to complete their development