Fall Webworms on Trees: What to Do (and What to Ignore)

Fall webworms build silk tents on branch tips in late summer and fall. Unlike some tent caterpillars, they usually feed inside the webs on leaves that trees are nearly done with for the season.

On established, healthy trees, light infestations are often cosmetic. Prune out small webs when reachable, or dislodge nests with a strong spray of water. Broad spraying of mature trees is rarely the first choice for a late-season pest.

Call for help when webs cover large portions of young trees, fruit trees you care about, or when multiple years of heavy defoliation stack up. Timing and tree vigor decide whether patience or treatment is smarter.