Cankerworm caterpillars of the hackberry leafroller moth have infested North Texas, including the Dallas-Fort Worth area, after recent rains provided conditions amenable to their life cycle.
The small green creatures, less than an inch long, are caking patio furniture with silk and even getting inside people’s homes. They have outbreaks every three to five years, but those normally happen in springtime.
Recent rains in North Texas spurred the new growth of vegetation, ideal for caterpillars to consume as they begin their life cycle. The outbreak started around Aug. 15; with the life cycle of the cankerworms being 4-6 weeks, their time as caterpillars is almost over.