are tent caterpillars harmful to trees
Given that playing with caterpillars is a great amusement (er, for children, that is), we are happy to report that playing with tent caterpillars is not very dangerous, as they are generally not poisonous (at least not to humans). However, tent worms do have small hairs on their bodies that can be irritating to people and animals. Two species of tent caterpillars are important tree pests in New York State. About every decade they become numerous enough in local outbreaks to cause concern. At times the epidemics reach statewide proportions. The buildup of natural control factors eventually reduces tent caterpillar populations to a low ebb, but in the meantime serious defoliation of many kinds of deciduous trees can occur. Tent caterpillars are most likely to be found on fruit trees, from Indian plum and wild cherry to apples, pears and peaches. They also enjoy alders, cascara and birch trees. You will need a trombone sprayer (and good water pressure) to reach tents that are high up in large trees. Take time to examine your caterpillars to see if they really are tent caterpillars. Tent caterpillars are about 2 inches long, dark brown and very fuzzy, with a white stripe down the back and linear or blobby red or blue side markings. In the suburban landscape, the situation is a little different. First of all, the trees are much more valuable and secondly, they are apt to be subjected to many other stressing agents (soil compaction, construction damage, other insect and disease pests, lawn herbicides, etc.). Caterpillar droppings help fertilize the understory of the woodlands. However, when tent caterpillars are wreaking havoc in the garden, it is very hard to sit back and let them defoliate your favorite roses or fruit trees. Fortunately, there are a number of safe and effective ways to cope with caterpillars. As soon as you spot either white tents or baby caterpillars, you can take action. Despite the damage they can cause, it is worth noting that trees can be surprisingly resilient in the face of an infestation. Tent caterpillars cause trees to defoliate, which is a problem, but an established tree can withstand 25 percent defoliation without succumbing to any problems. When numerous, the insect defoliates many other fruit trees as well as deciduous forest and shade trees including birch, oak, willow, poplar, and beech. The forest tent caterpillar prefers the foliage of sugar maple, poplar, ash, oak, birch, red gum, and black gum. The early spring feeding often results in destruction of the buds before they have a chance to open. Forest tent caterpillar homeowner tip sheet. Dealing with forest tent caterpillars (FTC) can be very frustrating! During the first three weeks of June, they can be a downright nuisance. They don't cause a health risk to humans, but the presence of hundreds or thousands of caterpillars can be a real headache. Fortunately, the nuisance associated with FTC outbreaks can be reduced by individual homeowners. The reader is worried that a child’s habit of playing with tent caterpillars (or perhaps just a single tent caterpillar) is dangerous. In this article, we’ll cover the potential dangerous of tent caterpillars, first addressing the topic with regard to humans, and then with regard to animals and plants.
Yes, Tent caterpillars cause trees to defoliate.