Fall Webworm

Sometimes, we go out to collect food for out caterpillars and bring back a hitchhiker. While collecting hickory branches for our Hickory Horned Devils, we brought back a branch with another moth species in residence.

The white moth pictured is commonly known as the Fall Webworm (Hyphantria cunea). The pale greenish patches on the leaves are actually collections of her eggs. Look closely. There are hundreds of them.

Once hatched, those tiny larva will begin to eat the leaves of their host tree and then begin construction of large webbed tents. These webs help keep the caterpillars safe from predators while they denude their branch of foliage. The species does not seem to actually harm healthy trees, but they can be fairly unsightly and make you tree a bit naked in places.

What's in a Name?

The genus Hyphantria is a the feminine form of the Greek word "hyphantēs" or weaver. This derives from the Greek term "hyphainein" or "to weave".

The specific epithet cunea likely derives from the Latin word "cuneus" or wedge, possibly referring to the triangular shape of the moth at rest.