Be on the look out for Eastern Tent Caterpillars in your landscape! Our Arborists warn that we will start seeing lots of Eastern Tent Caterpillars in the upcoming weeks. These caterpillars are a species of moth that emerge in their larvae state during spring and summer months.
These hairy insects, with areas of blue, white, black, and orange, are social species that form communal nests in the branches of trees and shrubs. These communal nests look a lot like spider webs and the caterpillars in them can easily defoliate your trees and bushes.
Eastern Tent Caterpillars Target These Trees:
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.
Signs & Symptoms:
Rapid Defoliation
Easily spread to other shrubs & trees
Silky nests in the crotches of branches (Sometimes referred to as webs or tents)
Dark colored larvae visible on the tree and in the nests
Need Help With Eastern Tent Caterpillars?
Or Call 703.573.3029
Eastern Tent Caterpillar Treatment:
DIY: If there is only a small amount of tent caterpillars, manually removing their tents may help slow or stop the infestation. Tents can be removed by winding them around the end of a broomstick or pole. Caterpillars in the tents can be hand-picked and dropped into soapy water.
Professional Treatment: If the infestation is too far along to manually remove, or if you rather not touch the caterpillars, professional application of insecticides can help rid your trees and shrubs of Eastern Tent Caterpillars.
What Now?
Canopy Protection Members, you can rest assured our Arborists and technicians will spot any Eastern Tent Caterpillar problems during routine inspections. If you are noticing any of these symptoms mentioned above feel free to reach out to us so we can adjust your inspection schedule if necessary.
If you think your tree has Eastern Tent Caterpillars don’t wait, schedule a tree care consultation with one of our Certified Arborists through our Online Booking System or by calling 703.573.3029.
RTEC TreeCare has been your premier destination for customizable tree care solutions for over 25-years. Our expert team of certified arborists and tree care professionals is committed to preserving the health and beauty of your trees while ensuring the safety of your property. With a focus on environmental sustainability and the latest industry practices, we offer a wide range of services, including tree trimming, pruning, emergency tree removal, disease treatment, and more.
RTEC TreeCare has been your premier destination for customizable tree care solutions for over 25-years. Our expert team of certified arborists and tree care professionals is committed to preserving the health and beauty of your trees while ensuring the safety of your property. With a focus on environmental sustainability and the latest industry practices, we offer a wide range of services, including tree trimming, pruning, emergency tree removal, disease treatment, and more.
When a tree starts looking unhealthy, most people look up. They check the leaves for discoloration, scan the branches for dieback, or inspect the trunk
RTEC Treecare has proudly provided tree care services to the Federal Government for 30 years. During that time, we have worked with over 20 federal agencies across four presidential administrations.
Safety and quality are at the core of everything we do. All work is performed in accordance with OSHA safety regulations and ANSI industry standards to ensure every project is completed professionally and responsibly.
RTEC Treecare is currently performing hazard tree pruning and removal services for the National Park Service at East Potomac Park Golf Course. The trees assigned for treatment have been evaluated and selected by National Park Service arborists based on established hazard assessment criteria.
We want to be clear: RTEC Treecare has not removed any cherry trees at East Potomac Park Golf Course. Our work has been limited to trees identified by the National Park Service as hazardous, non-native, or invasive.
As professional tree care specialists, we are committed to protecting and preserving valuable tree resources while helping ensure public safety.
Every project we undertake is guided by industry best practices and respect for the landscapes and communities we serve.
We remain dedicated to delivering safe, responsible, and high-quality tree care for our clients and the communities they serve.
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