Lee Townsend, Dan Potter, and Beth Ann Choate
Department of Entomology
University of Kentucky

Most eastern tent caterpillar (ETC) egg masses should have hatched by now in central Kentucky. Scattered observations point to an overall population level comparable to 2003. Caterpillar numbers should be well below area-wide outbreak levels but there will be some strong local pockets of infestation. Careful inspection of wild cherry and related trees is the way to assess the situation on your farm. Now is the time to begin looking.

ETC larvae are still very small but they are feeding on leaf buds and have started to form tents at branch angles. The tents will become more visible as the caterpillars grow and add to the structure. This will be the key to use and determine treatment sites and timing. At this point, the first full week of April should be the time to assess treatment with continued inspections as needed.

Caterpillar management options are the same as those recommended for 2003. Foliar sprays of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) products or the pyrethroid Talstar should be made when the tents are about the size of a baseball