Hazelnut-Tent caterpillar

Includes

Forest tent caterpillar (Malacosoma disstria)
Western tent caterpillar (Malacosoma californicum)

Pest description and crop damage The western tent caterpillar and the forest tent caterpillar are the main tent caterpillar pests in the PNW. These insects attack a wide variety of plants, including alder, ash, birch, cottonwood, and willow, as well as fruit trees and roses. The adult moths are stout-bodied, light to darker brown, and are active in early to midsummer. They are attracted to lights at night.

Larvae of the forest tent caterpillar are about 2 inches long, blue, with black spattered markings as well as white, footprint-shape marks. Larvae of the western tent caterpillar are hairy, dull yellow-brown, with rows of blue and orange spots on the body. Eggs of these moths are laid on twigs or buildings in masses. These are brown to gray, about 0.06 inch long, and look like polystyrene.

Larvae of both species feed in large groups on foliage of host plants and can do significant damage by defoliation. Larvae of western tent caterpillars build large silken tents over leaves on which they feed. Larvae of forest tent caterpillars build mats of webbing rather than tents. Larvae can defoliate small trees totally, which may not kill them, but it reduces growth and makes the trees more susceptible to diseases. Healthy trees usually will grow new leaves by midsummer.

Biology and life history The moths overwinter as egg masses on twigs or buildings. The eggs hatch in spring as buds break in April or May. The young larvae feed in groups for 5 to 6 weeks, growing larger and molting (shedding skins) four times. As they mature, they split into smaller groups and move to new feeding sites in the tree. The larvae pupate starting in mid-June, and the adults emerge 7 to 10 days later. The adults moths mate and females lay eggs that overwinter. There is one generation per year.

Pest monitoring Look for egg masses on twigs or other overwintering sites. Masses of young larvae are identified easily in early spring.

Management-biological control

Infestations of tent caterpillars occur cyclically as populations of the caterpillars and their predators rise and fall. Tent caterpillars have many natural enemies. Some birds eat the caterpillars and small mammals consume the pupae. The larvae of a tachinid fly parasitize the caterpillars.

Management-cultural control

Remove egg masses from twigs or other sites. Cut out infested twigs and dip them in a bucket of soapy water.

Management-chemical control: HOME USE

Spray in spring after overwintering eggs hatch, at about the time leaves are 0.75 to 1 inch long. Control is much more effective if sprays are applied when larvae are small.

• azadirachtin (neem oil)-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
• Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki (Bonide Thuricide BT)-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
• boscalid (Bonide Fruit Tree & Plant Guard)
• carbaryl (GardenTech Sevin)-Highly toxic to bees
• esfenvalerate (Monterey Bug Buster II)-Highly toxic to bees
• gamma-cyhalothrin (Spectracide)-Highly toxic to bees
• insecticidal soap/potassium laurate (Captain Jack's Insecticidal Super Soap Ready to Use)-Some formulations OMRI-listed for organic use.
• kaolin-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
• lambda-cyhalothrin (often as a mix with other ingredients) (Bonide Fruit Tree & Plant Guard) -highly toxic to bees
• potassium laurate (Ferti-Lome Spinosad Soap)
• plant-derived essential oils (ex. canola oil, peppermint oil, rosemary oil)(Take Down Garden Spray)-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
• pyrethrins (often as a mix with other ingredients)-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use. Highly toxic to bees
• spinosad-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
• zeta-cypermethrin (GardenTech Sevin)-Highly toxic to bees

Management-chemical control: COMMERCIAL USE

Organic:

• azadirachtin (Aza-Direct) at 1 to 2 pints/A in 100 gal water. For best results reapply on 7- to 10-day interval. OMRI-listed for organic use. REI 4 hr.
• azadirachtin + pyrethrins (Azera) at 2 pints/A. OMRI-listed for organic use. PHI 1 day. REI 12 hr.
• Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki-See label for rates. PHI 0 days. Follow label instructions. Add a spreader-sticker to enhance control. Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
• insecticidal soaps-
  • potassium silicate (Sil-Matrix) at 1 to 4 quarts/A in 100 gal water. REI 4 hr.
  • potassium laurate (Des-X, others) at 2 gal/A in 100 gal water (2% solution). PHI 12 hr. Do not apply to drought stressed plants.
• pyrethrins 5% (PyGanic, Lynx) at 15 to 17 oz/A. No residual activity. PyGanic OMRI-listed for organic use. PHI 1 day. REI 12 hr.
• oils-Botanical and plant-derived oils including cinnamon oil (Cinnerate), neem (Rango and others). Carefully follow labels to avoid phytotoxicity.
• spinosad (Entrust SC) at 4 to 10 oz/A (0.06 to 0.16 lb ai/A). PHI 1 days. REI 4 hr. OMRI-listed for organic use.

Conventional:

• bifenthrin-
  • Brigade WSB at 0.05 to 0.2 lb ai/A. PHI 7 days. REI 12 hr. Do not graze livestock on treated cover crops. Highly toxic to bees and toxic to fish and aquatic invertebrates.
  • Fanfare EC at 3.2 to 12.8 fl oz/A (0.05 to 0.20 lb ai/A). PHI 7 days. Do not graze livestock on treated cover crops. Highly toxic to bees and toxic to fish and aquatic invertebrates. WA only.
• lambda-cyhalothrin-
  • Drexel L-C at 2.56 to 5.12 fl oz/A. PHI 14 days. REI 24 hr. Do not exceed 0.16 lb ai/A per season or 0.12 lb ai post bloom.
  • Grizzly Too at 1.28 to 2.56 fl oz/A. PHI 14 days. REI 24 hr. Do not exceed 0.16 lb ai/A per season or 0.12 lb ai post bloom.
  • LambdaStar at 2.56 to 5.12 fl oz/A. PHI 14 days. REI 24 hr. Do not exceed 0.16 lb ai/A per season or 0.12 lb ai post bloom.
  • Warrior II at 1.28 to 2.56 fl oz/A (0.02 to 0.04 lb ai/A). PHI 14 days. REI 24 hr. Do not exceed 0.16 lb ai/A per season or 0.12 lb ai post bloom.
• methoxyfenozide (Intrepid 2F, generics) at 0.12 to 0.25 lb ai/A. PHI 14 days. REI 4 hr. Do not exceed 24 fl oz/A per application or 64 fl oz/A (1 lb ai/A) per season. Do not apply within 25 ft of an aquatic habitat, 150 ft if applied by air.
• permethrin-
  • Ambush 25W 12.8 to 25.6 oz/A. PHI 14 days. REI 12 hr. Do not graze treated orchards. Extremely toxic to fish and aquatic habitat.
  • PermaStar AG at 8 to 16 oz/A. PHI 14 days. REI 12 hr. Highly toxic to bees, toxic to fish and aquatic invertebrates.
  • Pounce 3.2 EC at 0.5 to 1 pint/A. PHI 14 days. REI 12 hr. Do not graze treated orchards. Extremely toxic to fish and aquatic habitat.