How to Get Rid of Tent Caterpillars

There are three equally annoying varieties of tent worms; Forest Tent, Eastern Tent and Gypsy Moth.
Tent worms can cause major defoliation of deciduous trees (those that lose their leaves each fall), depending on the severity of outbreak. You must also admit, these infestations are just plain ugly!
If you're feeling frustrated by an outbreak of tent worms, there are a few things you can do to try and control these prolific pests.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Sticky Tape
• Microbial Insecticide such as Bacillus thuringiensis (BT)
• Chemical Insecticides
• Pruners
• Bird Houses
• Bat Houses
• Beneficial parasites

1. MANUAL REMOVAL:
   
   You may opt for manually removing tent nests and egg cases. Look for the egg cases first thing in the spring. Tent worms are usually breeding through July. Tedious but preferable.

2. STICKY TRAPS:
   
   Install sticky tapes or sticky tree wraps at the base of trees to catch the worms on their way up or down the trees. Very effective but you must stay on top of it and remove 'full' sticky traps and replace regularly.

3. MICROBIAL / BIOLOGICAL INSECTICIDES:
   
   Microbial insecticides can be effective. Bacillus thuringiensis (BT) is the most common. As BT is naturally occuring in soil and on plants, it is also harmless to people, animals and plants but is not specific to which species of young moth or butterfly larvae it kills.

4. CHEMICAL INSECTICIDES:
   
   Chemical insecticides are contact poisons and if not used wisely, can harm other beneficial insects and animal species, such as honeybees. It's advisable to hire a licensed professional to use such poisons.

5. ENCOURAGE NATURAL ENEMIES:
   
   Encourage natural predators by putting up bird houses, bat houses and investigating beneficial insect/parasite purchases.

6. WATER BUCKETS:
   
   You can place buckets filled 1/4 of the way with water near tent infested areas. They will be attracted to the water and drown. Risk being that other animals and insects which you do not wish to harm may also fall victim to this method.

Tips & Warnings

• If many maple trees are effected (and they will cause severe decrease of sap collection), your state or county officials may grant the area a professionally done aerial pesticide attack.
• Ingestion of tent worms by pregnant horses can cause them to miscarry. Keep stables well protected.

Resources

• Caterpillar Comparison Chart

[bisbatt]

on 7/5/2009 Excellent article - but is there a way to get rid of the webbing once they've set in? My family went to their summer cabin and the place is covered from roof to porch. They're so sticky, you can broom them off the house - and a power washer won't touch them either. Any recommendations?

[gramadi]

on 6/29/2008 Are Gypsy Moth the mature tent worm

[MrPink88]

on 6/13/2008 thanks.

[chantelg4]

on 6/10/2008 thanks for this, I can't stand them, yuk!

[MIHealthCoach]

on 6/10/2008 interesting, thanks!