When larvae are fully grown, their protective bag is 1.0 to 1.5 inch long. One generation occurs per year. This native insect favors cherry, apple, and crabapple trees, but will also attack ash, birch, blackgum, willow, witch-hazel, maple, oak, poplar, peach, and plum. Larvae build silken tents in the crotches of host trees in the spring . Caterpillars leave the nest to feed on newly opened leaves and as the caterpillars grow, so does the nest.
Caterpillars are generally black, with a white stripe down the back.
Yellow stripes and blue spots are found along the sides. Reddish brown adult moths emerge from white cocoons in late June or early July. One generation occurs per year. In early spring, larvae begin feeding on aspen, blackgum, sweetgum, oak, birch, ash, maple, elm, and basswood. The larvae do not form a communal tent, rather individuals build small silken mats on the trunks of host trees which they use for resting cover.