Rather, young caterpillars make a pad of silk where they rest and molt. Also, the eastern tent caterpillar feeds almost exclusively on cherry, apple and plum trees. Both are feeding in early spring on many of the same trees, and can occur in large masses. Life History FTC has one generation per year. Caterpillars emerge from over-wintering eggs in the spring when the new leaves are beginning to unfold.
Young caterpillars stay together and move about in a single file, following silk trails.
They often congregate to rest or molt on silken mats found on the trunk or branches. In these cocoons, the caterpillars change to pupae. The adult moths emerge about 10 days later. The moths are night fliers and are attracted to lights so many egg masses are often located in well-lit areas. After mating the female moth lays eggs, generally in the upper crown of a host tree.