Fall Webworm

Natural Habitat

Found in deciduous and sometimes evergreen trees, particularly in orchards, ornamental plantings, and natural woodlands throughout North America. The silken webs are very conspicuous on tree branches.

Diet & Feeding

Primarily foliage of a wide variety of deciduous trees, including pecan, mulberry, black walnut, sourwood, persimmon, and fruit trees. They are generalist herbivores.

Behavior Patterns

The fall webworm caterpillar lives in communal silken webs spun on tree branches, which can grow quite large. They feed within the protection of these webs, expanding them as they consume leaves. As they mature, they disperse from the web to pupate in the soil or leaf litter.

Risks & Benefits

Potential risks include defoliation of trees, especially during severe outbreaks, which can weaken or stress the trees. This is primarily an aesthetic issue for ornamental trees. Benefits are minimal to humans but they are part of the natural food web, serving as a food source for birds and parasitic insects.

Identified on: 9/1/2025