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There seems to be an unusually large number of nasty webs all over trees this year, making many people question what the pests are and what can be done to get rid of them. Some have mistakenly identified the web nests as belonging to tent caterpillars, but Clemson entomologists say the web-like nests being spun on trees are those of fall webworms. The conspicuous webs contain caterpillars, dead partially eaten leaves and fecal droppings. Fall webworms Fall webworms are found throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. They appear from late summer through early fall and construct nests over the end of the branch rather than at tree crotches as do tent caterpillars. Fall webworms are a native pest of shade trees and shrubs, and feed on almost 90 species of deciduous trees, commonly attacking hickory, walnut, birch, cherry and crabapple. Fall webworms are the larval form of a small, mostly white moth. Tent caterpillars Eastern tent caterpillars and fall webworms both form silken nests in trees, but tent caterpillars and fall webworms are found at different times of the year and are found on different places on their hosts. Eastern tent caterpillars are found east of the Rocky Mountains. They are most visible in spring. Their nests are found in the crotches of branches of fruit trees, especially wild cherry, crab apple and apple. They are less frequently found on ash, birch, black gum, red gum, willow, witch-hazel, maple, oak, poplar, cherry, peach and plum. Tent caterpillars can weaken and defoliate trees so much they will eventually die. They are the larval form of a medium-size reddish-brown moth with two pale stripes on its wings. What to do about fall webworm nests Entomologists say that though their nests are creepy looking, fall webworms are basically harmless and don’t cause long-term damage to trees. If you just can’t stand looking at them, the techniques for getting rid of tent caterpillars and fall webworms are similar. The nests can be torn open and birds will likely destroy the caterpillar population, or the dead ends of tree branches can be pruned, and the nests can be entirely pulled down manually Fall webworms are unlikely to build a replacement nest before winter arrives, so the problem is eliminated until the next summer. Chemical treatments work best on webworm larvae and will not penetrate a mature nest.