What Are Those White Webs?

One of the signs of spring in the Midwest are eastern tent caterpillars. The first sign they're in your garden is a small white web in tree limb junctions. They're particularly fond of apples, cherries and roses. As caterpillars grow, so does the web, sometimes expanding to several tree junctions. Infested trees will look like something out of a Halloween scene for several weeks as caterpillars grow and feed. These caterpillars turn into red moths. Although they can defoliate trees and rosebushes, I've found mine grow back with little damage.