Late summer into fall is when Frankfort, KY homeowners start noticing silvery-white webs wrapping the ends of branches on walnuts, pecans, hackberries, and fruit trees — that’s the fall webworm, and it’s one of the most-asked-about pest calls we get this time of year.
Do Fall Webworms Kill Trees?
No — fall webworms rarely kill an otherwise healthy Frankfort tree; the real risk is a weakened tree already stressed by drought, storm damage, or disease.
Webworms build their nests at branch tips late in the growing season, after most of the tree’s food-making for the year is already done, so the defoliation looks alarming but rarely costs the tree much. The University of Kentucky Forestry Extension notes that healthy shade and landscape trees tolerate fall webworm feeding with little lasting effect, and treatment is usually about appearance rather than tree survival. The exception is a tree that’s already fighting root damage, an old storm wound, or heavy drought stress — on those, added defoliation is worth watching more closely.
Should You Remove Fall Webworm Nests Yourself or Call a Pro?
Small, low nests are safe to prune out yourself; nests high in mature canopy or on a tree already stressed are worth a $75–$200 pro visit.
A web you can reach from the ground or a stepladder can be cut out and bagged, or torn open so birds and predatory insects can get at the caterpillars — no spraying needed on a healthy tree. Once the nests are 20–30 feet up in a mature hackberry or walnut, or you’re dealing with a tree that already has dieback or a disease question mixed in, it’s not worth the fall risk of a homeowner ladder job. That’s the same range as a quick trimming and pruning call — $75–$200 — since it’s the same climber-and-pole-saw crew clearing a few branch tips. If you’re not sure whether what you’re looking at is a webworm nest or a sign of something worse, our tree disease diagnosis page covers how we tell the two apart.
Are fall webworms the same as Eastern tent caterpillars?
No. Tent caterpillars build tents in branch forks in spring; fall webworms build looser webs around leaf clusters at branch tips in late summer and fall.
Will spraying get rid of fall webworms?
Spraying only works before the web fully encloses the foliage, since the silk sheds most contact sprays afterward — physical removal is usually more effective once a nest is established.
Do fall webworms come back every year?
The same tree can get repeat nests in following years, especially walnuts and pecans, but population pressure varies year to year and isn’t something we can predict in advance.
Not sure if what’s on your tree is a webworm nest, a disease, or something that needs a closer look? Get a free estimate or call or text (859) 310-1209.
Related: Tree Trimming & Pruning | Tree Disease Diagnosis Frankfort KY
Source: University of Kentucky Forestry Extension, Fall Webworms.
Last updated: September 3, 2026