Eastern Tent Caterpillar (Malacosoma americanum)

Often confused with the exotic gypsy moth and the fall webworm, the eastern tent caterpillar (Malacosoma americanum) is a native North American botanical pest found commonly on wild cherry, apple, hawthorn, plum, and maple trees. As the larval stage of a reddish-brown moth, periodic outbreaks of this nesting herbivore can cause serious tree defoliation, weakening but usually not killing the hosts.