Forest Tent Caterpillar

The forest tent caterpillar, Malacosoma disstria Hubner. While closely related to the eastern tent caterpillar, the forest tent caterpillar does not feed in a webbed tent. The larvae are black and somewhat hairy with a row of yellow and blue keyhole-shaped spots down the center of the back. Single larva are often found in early spring feeding on the buds or new leaves of a variety of deciduous plant species which they may severely damage. Application of an insecticide at budbreak may be necessary to supress the damage from this pest.

Common host plants: a variety of deciduous plant species

Return to the chewing insects page