Mary and all,

I did a web search of "feeds on tent caterpillars" and "eats tent
caterpillars", besides Cuckoos which are a very remote possibility, other
birds listed were Northern Orioles, Chickadees, Nuthatches, Juncos, Bushtits
and (Eastern) Bluebirds. Tent Caterpillar tents were also listed as an
important nesting material for some birds. Other predators included
"Caterpillar Hunters" i.e. ground beetles of the genus Calasoma, Yellow
jackets and other predaceous wasps, stink bugs and Tachnid flies. Results
were from across the country and might not all apply here. I also found
this good local website:
http://216.239.57.104/search?q=cache:IGSMisYKSJMJ:www.cityofseattle.net/util
/proipm/docs/Tent%2520caterpillar.pdf+%22eat+tent+caterpillars%22&hl=en&ie=U
TF-8 (html version, click on pdf for pdf)

I don't think blowing or spraying them off will work very well. I expect
they would just climb back up the tree. If you choose to spray with BT,
I've heard concern expressed with something it may be mixed with, possibly
an agent to keep it from washing away with the first rain.

Stewart Wechsler
West Seattle
mailto:ecostewart at quidnunc.net

-----Original Message-----
From: TWEETERS-owner at u.washington.edu
[mailto:TWEETERS-owner at u.washington.edu]On Behalf Of MaryK
Sent: Tuesday, April 13, 2004 1:58 PM
To: Tweeters
Subject: TWEETERS: Trees, Caterpillars, and Birds


In my yard are four fruit trees (apple, I think). Unfortunately all four of
them are caterpillar-infested. Some friends have said I need to deal w/the
caterpillars, they'll eat all the leaves/injure or kill the tree. I was
going to ignore them, thinking they'd be good food for the birds. Any
advice appreciated, am in a quandary.

Thanks in advance,
Mary

PS - No idea what kind of caterpillars they are; am assuming tent, but don't
really know.

Mary Klein
Bremerton WA
CelloBird at seanet.com
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