Caterpillar Alert!

[WNC Bonsai]

Just found two on my American larches. One was just hanging out on a branch and another had already wrapped itself up in a cluster of fresh new needles at the top of the apex. These are little brown critters about an inch long and they are the same color as the bark so can be hard to spot until they wrap up in a needle cluster and munch away. I squished them right away before I thought about getting a photo. I see them every year this time on several different species, mostly conifers. At any rate now is the time to keep an eye out for caterpillars on you trees.

 

[WNC Bonsai]

OK, just found another one. I have outlined it in red, they are very hard to see otherwise.

 

[WNC Bonsai]

Looks like it might be one of many inchworms, loopers, etc. So far not able to narrow it down online although little brown inch worm seems the common name.