The larvae will spin a yellowish cocoon, in which it will enter the pupal stage for about 3 weeks. During late June and July, adults emerge and the female lays a mass of eggs around a small twig. The eggs overwinter as a dark, collar-like mass encircling twigs. The adult moths are reddish-brown with two oblique white bands on the forewing. The eastern tent caterpillar causes damage by the presence of unsightly nests in ornamental trees and can weaken trees by defoliation, but is not a major threat to trees.
Control is maintained by natural predators, disease, and insecticides.