What is this web in our sweet gum tree? - Ask Extension
We have a six-year-old sweet gum that has been healthy until this showed up. Some of the leaves not affected by the web are turning brown. Is the tree...
Knowledgebase
What is this web in our sweet gum tree? #274389
Asked August 31, 2015, 9:25 AM EDT
We have a six-year-old sweet gum that has been healthy until this showed up. Some of the leaves not affected by the web are turning brown. Is the tree in danger? Should we be concerned? What can we do for this?
Wood County Ohio
Expert Response
Hi Pamela,
It appears you have fall webworm (Hyphantria cunea) on your sweet gum tree. Thank you for the good photo. According to sources, this will not cause any long term damage to your tree.
NC state provides this explanation:
"Established trees can tolerate losing a considerable amount of foliage, particularly in late summer and fall. The injury caused by fall webworm feeding is considered cosmetic, only affecting the appearance of the tree, not the tree’s health. In most cases there is no need to do anything about fall webworms. The exception is young, recently planted trees which can be completely defoliated by webworms. In this situation it is usually beneficial to treat or physically remove webworms before significant leaf loss occurs."
This site will provide you with specifics:
http://pender.ces.ncsu.edu/2013/08/what-is-making-webs-in-my-tree/
Thank you for asking Ask a Master Gardener. If we can be of any further assistance, we hope you will contact us again.
Best regards,
It appears you have fall webworm (Hyphantria cunea) on your sweet gum tree. Thank you for the good photo. According to sources, this will not cause any long term damage to your tree.
NC state provides this explanation:
"Established trees can tolerate losing a considerable amount of foliage, particularly in late summer and fall. The injury caused by fall webworm feeding is considered cosmetic, only affecting the appearance of the tree, not the tree’s health. In most cases there is no need to do anything about fall webworms. The exception is young, recently planted trees which can be completely defoliated by webworms. In this situation it is usually beneficial to treat or physically remove webworms before significant leaf loss occurs."
This site will provide you with specifics:
http://pender.ces.ncsu.edu/2013/08/what-is-making-webs-in-my-tree/
Thank you for asking Ask a Master Gardener. If we can be of any further assistance, we hope you will contact us again.
Best regards,
