Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
LIFE HISTORY
Adults of the first generation occur in the spring from
April onwards, the egg-laying females each depositing
several hundred eggs on the spurs or on the underside of
the expanded leaves; the egg batches are then partly
covered with whitish hairs. The larvae are gregarious.
They feed ravenously on the foliage from May to July,
sheltering during the day within a large but flimsy
communal web. When fully fed, the larvae wander
away to pupate on the foodplant, each in a slight,
greyish-brown cocoon. Moths of a second generation
appear in July and August, eventually giving rise to
larvae which complete their development in the autumn.
These second-generation larvae usually pupate within
bark crevices or amongst dead leaves, and then
overwinter.
DAMAGE
Host trees are clothed in webbing and extensively
defoliated. Attacks are often severe on hedgerows as
well as on shade or ornamental trees in urban and
suburban areas.
844
844
Female American white moth (
Hyphantria cunea
).
845
846
845
Male American white moth (
Hyphantria cunea
).
846
Egg batch of American white moth (
Hyphantria cunea
).
847
848
847
Fall webworm (
Hyphantria cunea
).
848
Web of fall webworms (
Hyphantria cunea
).
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