Fall webworm

Fall webworm
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Superfamily: Noctuoidea
Family: Erebidae
Subfamily: Arctiinae
Genus: Hyphantria
Species:
H. cunea
Binomial name
Hyphantria cunea
(Drury, 1773)
Synonyms
  • Phalaena cunea Drury, 1773
  • Phalaena liturata Goeze, 1781
  • Phalaena punctatissima Smith, 1797
  • Cycnia budea Hübner, 1823
  • Arctia textor Harris, 1823
  • Hyphantria textor Harris, 1841
  • Spilosoma mutans Walker, 1856
  • Hyphantria punctata Fitch, 1857
  • Hyphantria pallida Packard, 1864
  • Spilosoma candida Walker, [1865]
  • Hyphantria suffusa Strecker, 1900
  • Hyphantria brunnea Strecker, 1900

The fall webworm (Hyphantria cunea) is a moth in the family Erebidae known principally for its larval stage, which creates the characteristic webbed nests on the tree limbs of a wide variety of hardwoods in the late summer and fall. It is considered a pest but does not harm otherwise healthy trees. It is well known to commercial tree services and arboriculturists. Fall webworms are an invasive species in East Asia.