KAWARTHA LAKES-You may have been noticing the tent caterpillars on some trees in Kawartha Lakes this summer. The Ministry of Natural Resources has noticed them too.
“Recent monitoring by the Ministry of Natural Resources has shown increased numbers of fall webworms, including in the Kawartha Lakes area. These are likely the caterpillars and web-covered branches many residents are noticing this summer.” Kavithaa Kandasamy, Media Relations Lead for the Ministry of Natural Resources told Kawartha 411 News.
Kandasamy says caterpillar populations naturally rise and fall in cycles. Eastern tent caterpillar outbreaks typically occur every 10 years and may last one to three years, while fall webworm populations can remain elevated for two or three years before declining.
“While the webs may appear concerning, fall webworms generally pose little risk to the long-term health of healthy trees.” explains Kandasamy. Â
 Homeowners can manage fall webworms on ornamental trees by pruning affected branches and disposing of webs in a sealed garbage bag. Further information can be found at https://www.ontario.ca/page/
