Webworms

Participants in the OGIA-OSU Diagnostic Walk-About held this past Monday at the Cincinnati Botanical Garden and zoo found a second generation Fall Webworm nest. The webworms were the black-headed biotype, but more on that later.

Fall Webworm (Hyphantria cunea) has two overlapping generations per season in Ohio. The "fall" in the webworm's common name is based on large second-generation nests normally appearing late in the season. However, we are receiving reports that where localized webworm populations are high, the caterpillars are already producing some truly spectacular nests sometimes enveloping entire trees.