EMPORIUM – Have you see any webs in your trees? Late summer and early fall is when you notice that the fall webworms are back.
The larval stage of this moth creates a web mainly on the ends of the branches, and they feed on the leaves while protected by the ever growing web. After approximately one month, the larvae pupate and overwinter at the base of the tree. In the spring, the adults emerge and the females lay their eggs on the underside of leaves and the cycle begins again, according to Jeanne M. Wambaugh, district forester for the Elk State Forest.
These native insects prefer fruit trees, hickory trees and maple trees. This species does little damage to the trees due to their late season feeding, stated Wambaugh.
