The spring cankerworm is the more common species in Kansas. Adult females of both species are wingless moths. The fall cankerworm adult emerges in October and November, whereas the spring cankerworm adult does not emerge until late February and March. The females of both species crawl up the trunk of the tree to deposit eggs. Eggs of both species hatch in April or early May and the young devour the developing leaves.
Dispersal is accomplished when the small caterpillars are blown from one tree to another.
Large numbers of larvae may annoy passersby because the often hang from a strand of silk. Upon maturity, larvae descend to the ground on a silk thread. They then burrow into the ground, spin a cocoon and pupate. The spring cankerworm larvae vary in color from reddish to yellowish-brown or yellowish green and may even be blackish. Usually there is a yellowish stripe on the side of the body though this may be missing.