{"id":4476,"date":"2011-01-27T14:49:18","date_gmt":"2011-01-27T19:49:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/ipm\/"},"modified":"2023-06-26T11:12:08","modified_gmt":"2023-06-26T15:12:08","slug":"5022e","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/ipm\/ipddl\/publications\/5022e\/","title":{"rendered":"Forest and Eastern Tent Caterpillars"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n \n \"Print\n <\/a>\n <\/div><\/h3>\n

Pest Management Fact Sheet #5022<\/h3>\n

(Malacosoma disstria) <\/em>and (Malacosoma americanum)<\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n

James F. Dill, Pest Management Specialist
\nClay A. Kirby, Insect Diagnostician<\/em><\/p>\n

For information about UMaine Extension programs and resources, visit extension.umaine.edu<\/a>.
\nFind more of our publications and books at extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/<\/a>.<\/strong>
\n<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Description & Biology<\/h3>\n

The forest tent and eastern tent caterpillars are similar in habits and appearance. Fully grown forest tent caterpillars (larvae) have keyhole-like, or shoe print-shaped, whitish spots on each body segment. This fine line of spots runs down the middle of the back for the entire length of the body.\u00a0 Along each side is a continuous blue line. Their favorite hosts are oak, poplar, maple and birch. The caterpillars do not build nests but leave behind mats of silken threads on trees where they travel or rest.<\/p>\n

The eastern tent caterpillar differs in that it has a solid whitish line down the center of the back and an orangish stripe on the sides. They feed on apple, crabapple and cherry trees and build distinctive nests in forks of trees.<\/p>\n\n\t\t