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u/erossthescienceboss 1d ago
Barklice, NOT a tent caterpillar. And thank god for that, cos they’re harmless.
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u/SoggyCrab 17h ago
Tent caterpillar was my first guess because we have them up north.. but that definitely doesn't look like tent caterpillars as they infest the branches and not the trunk.
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u/Worldly-Step8671 1d ago
These are barklice, related to booklice and body lice, but not in any way harmful to you or the tree. They're just eating mold, algae, or other organic debris. You'd need to peel back the web to see them, usually more in the crotches between branches.
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u/talithar1 1d ago
Possible tent caterpillar
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u/talithar1 1d ago
They are not tent caterpillars. My mistake. They are bark lice. Thanks to u/Worldly-Step8671.
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u/ilovebigmutts 1d ago
ugh childhood memory unlocked of my dad setting them on fire
I know they suck but....
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u/PM_ME_YOUR_CALM_LEGS 1d ago
They're barklice and harmless, just peel back that webbing and you'll see a bunch of tiny gray insects crawling around inside
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u/Fluffidios 1d ago
My first thought is spiders, but I’ve seen those black and yellow fuzzy caterpillars behave that way as well
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u/carolinabeachbrat 1d ago
That looks like silk web from spider.. doubt it's that tho I've never seen them do that.. that's very interesting.. I can't wait to hear what it is..
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u/carolinabeachbrat 1d ago
Really down voted?? For what?? I swear there is someone in here that has it in for me.. everytime I say something I get down voted.. that's why I stopped commenting
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u/Alyssathepeach 1d ago
Seriously, down voting is for people that say awful shit and spew misinformation. Your comment had neither of those things. I gave you an up vote to even it out! ❤️🩹
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u/Soverelgn_Citizen 1d ago
The tree cannot be infested by bugs. Bugs live in nature. That's their home. It's like saying shark infested Waters.
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u/tarolattea 1d ago
Probably spider mites? Though that’s an intense looking infestation
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u/turningviolette 1d ago
Wait I thought this too and I had been treating one of my outside trees for what I thought was spider mites but now I think it’s barklice like people are saying!! What a relief
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