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RTEC Treecare

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Eastern Tent Caterpillars

Resources: Tree Problems

Eastern Tent Caterpillars are very common in this area from late April through early June. These native insects create nests that resemble webs in the crotches of trees and emerge to feed during warm sunny days. If you’ve noticed webs forming in the crotches of your tree, it’s likely you have an Eastern Tent Caterpillar issue. Depending on the condition of your tree, Eastern Tent Caterpillars damage can range from a strictly aesthetic situation to a serious health situation.

Identifying Eastern Tent Caterpillars

  • Eastern Tent Caterpillars have blue, black and orange markings, and a white stripe down the back.
  • They are mostly smooth but have a series of hairs sticking out along the sides of their bodies.
  • They are two inches long when fully grown.

Trees Susceptible to Eastern Tent Caterpillars

Eastern Tent Caterpillars affect most species of deciduous trees including maples, willows, and poplars; however, our Arborists suggest keeping a close eye on your Cherry and Crab Apple trees.

Young trees and stressed/unhealthy trees are extra susceptible to this pest as well.

Signs of Eastern Tent Caterpillars

  • Rapid defoliation
  • Defoliation that spreads easily/quickly to other shrubs & trees
  • Silky nests in the crotches of branches (Sometimes referred to as webs or tents)
  • Dark-colored caterpillars visible on the tree and in the nests

Damage Caused By Eastern Tent Caterpillars

This caterpillar does damage by feeding on the foliage of trees and shrubs. In high populations, Eastern Tent Caterpillars can easily defoliate an entire tree.

For most healthy trees, Eastern Tent Caterpillars don’t leave much lasting damage. Healthy trees will be able to recover from the infestation and put out a new crop of leaves. However, unhealthy, stressed trees and young trees can develop lasting damage from these caterpillars feeding on their foliage. They may not have enough energy or stored nutrients to replenish their foliage and could succumb to the infestation. If you have a young or stressed tree it may need protection from this insect.

Treatment for Eastern Tent Caterpillars

If you catch the infestation early enough you can usually stop it from getting worse by grabbing the webs and removing them from the tree crotches. If the infestation has progressed far enough that you can not remove all the webs or the webs are too big to remove you may need professional intervention.

Professional treatments often consist of a targeted insecticide to control the Eastern Tent Caterpillar population. Your Arborist will determine the best treatment for your tree based on the tree species, the surrounding landscape, and goals.

Let Us Help!

Eastern Tent Caterpillar Treatment

RTEC can help if you’re dealing with an Eastern Tent Caterpillar infestation on your property but we can also help in preventing an infestation in the first place. If you have a current infestation of Eastern Tent Caterpillars, have susceptible trees on your property, or have had an Eastern Tent Caterpillar infestation in the past give us a call at 703-573-3029 or schedule a consultation online. One of our Certified Arborists will be able to create a customized plan based on your property and your situation to make sure you get the best care for your trees.

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Google Reviews

Grey Burkhart
Grey Burkhart
March 29, 2022.
Verified
Very professional review of our requirements and an accurate estimate. Showed up on time and were finished quickly. Cleaned up all of the debris and sawdust. Great job all around.
Dennis Bruns
Dennis Bruns
March 8, 2022.
Verified
We have used RTEC Treecare for several years. They do excellent work. Their staff is extremely knowledgeable and take great care in explaining the various options available for your particular situation. I highly recommend them.
Annette Iannucci
Annette Iannucci
February 23, 2022.
Verified
We have been using RTEC for years and were very pleased with the recent tree maintenance work they did for us. As always, we got good advice from their arborist Ben,. The crew that did the work is highly skilled, and they did a great job trimming our trees. They worked safely and efficiently, in addition to leaving the yard clean after they finished the work.
Susan Crawford
Susan Crawford
January 26, 2022.
Verified
RTEC was at my house today to removed a large Magnolia that was badly damaged by the recent snow. They did a fantastic job at a very reasonable price. They arrived right on time, worked efficiently and quickly and cleaned up so well it was hard to tell anything have been disturbed. Over the past several years, I have used RTEC for all the services I checked above, and have always been very pleased with their service and professionalism. I also appreciate that they are not eager to take down trees that don't need to come down. In this case, the damage was too extensive for the tree to recover.
Kenton Morgan
Kenton Morgan
January 20, 2022.
Verified
Once again, RTEC has done a great job. The team showed up right on time and performed all the work that we agreed to. They kept us informed as to progress, coordinated with us concerning our maple, and made recommendations concerning ongoing support for our trees. At the end of the day, they thoroughly cleaned up the debris and left our yard in pristine condition. WELL DONE.
Jean Kluttz
Jean Kluttz
January 3, 2022.
Verified
Not our first time but this time was tricky removal of a large dead tree leaning on a healthy tree. Quick response for estimate, good timing to removal, all clear and healthy tree still fine.
Jerry Haggin
Jerry Haggin
December 16, 2021.
Verified
Very good work while ensuring that I was aware of status of my work order and planned completion.
Mike Iger
Mike Iger
December 16, 2021.
Verified
David Roberts
David Roberts
December 15, 2021.
Verified
We’ve used RTEC for many years for tree maintenance and can’t say enough good things about their service. We use them for tree trimming and for regular treatments to maintain our trees’ health and deal with pests and prevent disease. Their arborist Ben has been especially helpful with advice. RTEC also been especially helpful in emergency situations, once coming to cable a massive, heritage oak in our yard right before a hurricane was about to hit. Highly recommend.
Travis Larson
Travis Larson
December 10, 2021.
Verified
RTEC did an excellent job onsite of removing dead branches from our 80+ year old trees, and trimming other growth too close to our home.
Google rating score: 4.8 of 5, based on 185 reviews.

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