Adults emerge in spring after host plants have developed leaves and mate. On the underside of leaves female moths deposit eggs in masses that appear covered with hair. Caterpillars hatch and begin feeding on leaves, spinning silken webs enveloping their feeding sites. Two to four generations occur per year, depending on locality within Texas. Caterpillars have chewing mouthparts.
Adults have siphoning mouths.
Caterpillars will feed on leaves of a large number of trees including hickory, mulberry, oak, pecan, poplar, redbud, sweetgum, willow and many other shade, ornamental, fruit and nut trees. Preferences for different host plant species appear to be regional and seasonal. They feed on tender parts of leaves, leaving the larger veins and midrib. Webworms can appear as early as April in south Texas and high numbers of webs can occur during any of the generations that occur through the summer. However, the last generation is generally the most damaging.