Starting to notice more caterpillars moving in around Toronto in May, 2016?
Eastern tent caterpillars are taking over trees across the city and many residents are concerned about an infestation. Large outbreaks tend to occur every few years, and 2016 looks to be one of those years.
But according to the City of Toronto’s website, you don’t have anything to worry about the icky, unsightly creatures.
The caterpillars rarely cause tree death.
“The eastern tent caterpillar (Malacosoma americanum), is a native insect that rarely occurs in large enough numbers to cause tree death in Toronto,” the website says.
But their presence can be hideous and often disturbing to homeowners.
The preferred spot for the caterpillars to live is ornamental cherry, apple or crab apple trees and severe infestation can result in the tree being covered with webbing and stripped of its leaves.
Just recently, forest tent caterpillars invaded parts of Winnipeg and chewed their way through city trees. The city responded by spraying multiple trees just this week.
Sightings of the creepy insects have been made by multiple people in Scarborough who are concerned about their presence.
The caterpillars often lay eggs over the winter which hatch in late May. By June, the tent larvae descends to the ground to pupate in white cocoons on tree trunks, fences or other similar structures.
The City of Toronto recommends a few options in dealing with the caterpillars such as pruning out the egg masses, removing underlying branches, remove and destroy cocoons or putting parasitic wasps where moths are first seen.
Read the full post in 680news.com
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