Tent Caterpillars

cdbva · May 8, 2009

I had some seeds started -- chard, various salad greens, and zinnias -- that had just put up very energetic cotyledons. They were on the porch in little biodegradable cups.

Came home from work today and the salad and the zinnias had completely disappeared. The chard was still there.

There were two tent caterpillars on cups, and three or four nosing about next to the cups on the cement. So... do they eat little baby plants?

There are no trees anywhere near the porch. There are some azaleas, though. I have noticed some tents in the neighbor's yard, about 50 feet away. Could they have come all that way?

I was cross.

Christine

**nctomatoman** · May 31, 2009

They do travel - we had several of their tents in our cherry tree. They didn't seem to eat our seedlings, though. One interesting thing we found out - Blue Gray Gnatcatchers (small songbird) like to pluck the worms out of the tents. First time we ever saw those particular birds...and we were pleased with their efforts!

May 8, 2009	#1
cdbva Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Falls Church, VA Posts: 538	Tent Caterpillars I had some seeds started -- chard, various salad greens, and zinnias -- that had just put up very energetic cotyledons. They were on the porch in little biodegradable cups. Came home from work today and the salad and the zinnias had completely disappeared. The chard was still there. There were two tent caterpillars on cups, and three or four nosing about next to the cups on the cement. So... do they eat little baby plants? There are no trees anywhere near the porch. There are some azaleas, though. I have noticed some tents in the neighbor's yard, about 50 feet away. Could they have come all that way? I was cross. Christine

May 31, 2009	#2
nctomatoman Tomatoville® Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Hendersonville, NC zone 7 Posts: 10,385	They do travel - we had several of their tents in our cherry tree. They didn't seem to eat our seedlings, though. One interesting thing we found out - Blue Gray Gnatcatchers (small songbird) like to pluck the worms out of the tents. First time we ever saw those particular birds...and we were pleased with their efforts! __________________ Craig