Eastern Tent Caterpillar Moth

Natural Habitat

Found in deciduous forests, suburban gardens, and orchards throughout the eastern United States and southern Canada.

Diet & Feeding

Adults do not eat as they have vestigial mouthparts; caterpillars feed on the leaves of cherry, apple, and crabapple trees.

Behavior Patterns

Adults are nocturnal and attracted to lights. Larvae are social and build large silk communal tents in the forks of tree branches.

Risks & Benefits

Benefits include serving as a food source for birds; risks involve caterpillars' defoliation of host trees, though they rarely kill healthy mature trees.

Identified on: 5/19/2026