Animals & Insects

There’s a good chance that if you have a beautiful oak tree in your back or front yard, you are not the only one enjoying it. Maintaining the health of your oak tree is always the most important, and sometimes that means getting rid of those unwanted guests, like oakworms!

In truth, oakworms eat the newly sprouted buds on your oak tree, so infestations can severely limit potential tree growth. You can get rid of oakworms on your oak trees by using dish soap, spraying a Bacillus Thuringiensis (BT), or inviting natural predators such as birds to your environment.

Today we’re going to share with you some simple tips on how you can get rid of oakworms on your oak tree and fast! Keep on reading to find out more!

What Are The Worms in My Oak Tree?

First things first, those little worm-like insects are technically caterpillars called oakworms, and they can take over your entire oak tree! 

When the weather starts to get warmer, and everything comes out of its dormant stages, oakworms are one of the first to appear. Oakworms are early spring insects that start causing havoc once it hatches from mid-March to April.

Once these little insects start hatching – they immediately start feeding, and our oak trees may not even get a chance to fully bud if you have an oak worm infestation!

These caterpillars, unlike oak trees, are not a sight to see. They are hairless, with big heads and small yellow bodies, and will turn black when they are an adult – and just like it says in their name – Oakworms love oak trees.  

Oakworm caterpillars are a threat to oak trees because they love the newly sprouted buds. They can eat the entire leaf until the veins are shown – and then go back for more and eat that too. Yikes!

If you happen to see larger black hairless oakworms or smaller yellow to green oakworms, it’s time to act fast to get rid of them.

Oakworms go dormant in the winter months, and that is the best time to take action and get rid of them. If you have an oakworm infestation, there is a chance your oak tree will decline in health – and we don’t suggest taking that chance!

But you may be wondering – why are oakworms in my oak tree to begin with? The answer is quite simple.

Why Are Oakworms in My Oak Tree?

Oak trees provide everything an oakworm needs: safety, shelter, and food. Who could want more?

When in an oak tree – oakworms are situated safely, high up into the air, away from any oakworm predators that are on the ground.

Oak trees also provide the oakworms with an infinite supply of food – and, although oakworms eat the oak tree leaves, the leaves can regenerate.

An oak tree houses the entire life cycle of an oakworm: from egg to larvae, to pupae, and adult. So, once they are there – oakworms are there to stay.

Why Oakworms Are an Issue For Oak Trees

We’ve talked a lot here about preventing oakworms from our oak trees – but we haven’t talked about why oakworms are a threat to our oak trees in the beginning!

Oakworms, at face value, don’t seem like they would do much harm to our oak trees. But the truth is – they do harm without even realizing it.

An oakworm’s whole purpose is to produce and to eat. Once these little creatures produce, the eggs, which can be upwards of 100 eggs a day, hatch into larvae when spring comes and will immediately hatch and start eating.

An oakworm colony can completely eat the entire canopy of your oak tree. The damage is done when the oakworms eat the buds before the tree gets to produce leaves.

If your oak tree doesn’t produce leaves in season, it will not get as many nutrients or as much water as it needs to survive.

And listen, an oakworm or two is not an issue – but when you start seeing branches full of oakworms – it is time to take action – and we’re going to tell you just how to do that!

Simple Tips to Get Rid of Oakworms in Your Oak Tree

What matters the most here is that your oak tree remains in good health – because an unhealthy oak tree can become a huge problem.

Oak trees are taller than life and are usually situated near homes, and an unhealthy oak tree can fall down and cause destruction. So, if your oak tree has oakworms – let’s get rid of them as soon as possible!

Make Your Oak Tree a Slippery Surface

Once you have oakworms in your oak tree, it’s best to start preventing any more from coming or the ones you removed from coming back.

A really easy method to try to keep oakworms away from your oak trees is to create a slippery surface. All it takes is some extra soapy water or some duct tape, or both for extra slip, to give your oak tree a hard-to-crawl-on trunk.

Grab some dish soap and some water and mix the two in a spray bottle. Once your mix is soapy and bubbly, spray it around the trunks of your oak tree and on the branches and leaves, and really soak it on!

If the dish soap and water aren’t enough, you can wrap your trunks in duct tape and spray the slippery soap onto them!

Place Orange Peels Around Your Oak Tree

So, oakworms don’t like the smell of citrus, and they especially don’t like the taste of oranges!

If you have some orange peels, adding them around the soil of your oak tree and at the base is a way to deter oakworms before they even try to get on your trees!

Imagine only eating leaves all day, bland and earthy – and then all of a sudden tasting an orange? It’s not even about the taste, but how shocking would that be?

To scare oakworms away or to make your oak tree undesirable is to add orange peels to the bottom. The oakworms may even think the oranges are the leaves that fell from the tree!

The thing about oakworms is that they don’t just appear, but the eggs were hatched after an oak moth flew/climbed the trunk and parked itself on a branch – so if you initially scare them away, they won’t climb up and lay their eggs.

One of the best preventative measures is to just make your oak tree as undesirable as possible to an oakworm.

Use a Bacillus Thuringiensis (BT) Spray

Using a pesticide known as Bacillus thuringiensis is one of the common ways to get rid of oakworms on your oak tree.

Bacillus thuringiensis is a naturally occurring, organic bacteria that is found in soil. It works as an insecticide when used in spray form and will not harm any nearby trees, plants, or wildlife unless stated on the back of the spray.

Mixing Bacillus Thuringiensis like this one, Monterey BT Oakworm, and Caterpillar in a spray bottle diluted with water and then spraying it directly on the areas that are affected will work as an organic pesticide.

Bacillus Thuringiensis is a great option because it is non-toxic and will not cause harm to the surrounding areas.

You can even purchase Monterey BT Insecticide Ready to Spray, with the spray nozzle already attached. Spraying it directly onto any oakworm infestations, or, as a preventative, after you have removed all the oakworms, will be an amazing way to get rid of them.

This method will deter oakworms from crawling up into the branches and making a home because they won’t physically be able to get there, as they will keep sliding down!

Make a Spicy Oakworm Insecticide

Oakworms hate spicy scents, and a great way to get rid of them is by spraying a garlicky, hot peppery spray to your tree trunks, branches, and leaves!

Mixing garlic, hot pepper, dish soap, oil, and water will make the perfect spicy insecticide. With the dish soap and oil, the spicy smell will linger for a longer period of time, and plus, it’s a two-and-one because the soap will make for a slippery surface.

In a spray bottle, mix all the ingredients, and then spray a generous amount all along your tree.

Not only will this spicy insecticide prevent oakworms from going by your oak tree, but it will prevent many types of critters – flies, caterpillars, beetles, raccoons, rats, birds, opossums, and even deer.

The smell of spice is often too much for an animal or insect to handle. The spicy aroma will overwhelm their senses, making it harder for an oakworm and other critters to find food and safety.

Insects and animals rely on their sense of smell for almost all things, and without it, they wouldn’t be able to function.

Placing smells strategically around your oak tree will help prevent oakworms and a bunch of other unwanted guests.

Plant Lavender Plants Near Your Oak Tree

With the same idea in mind of using scents as a means to get rid of oakworms, another scent you can try is lavender!

Lavender field surrounding oak tree.
Lavender field surrounding oak tree.

Planting lavender plants around your oak will act like an oakworm barrier and will not only look beautiful but will prevent oakworms and other critters from getting too close to your oak tree.

If planting isn’t for you, another great way to incorporate lavender into your plan of action is to use diluted lavender essential oil and soaking cotton balls in it.

After the cotton balls are fully soaked, adding the lavender balls around your oak tree, or hidden in little hollows or in branches, can help keep oakworms and other pests away.

Lavender, although fresh smelling and pleasing to humans, is overpowering for an insect, especially something as tiny as an oakworm or Caterpillar.

It’s interesting because caterpillars can only see the light and dark – they can’t make out images, so their smell is really all that they rely on.

Add Bird Feeders Near Your Oak Tree

One last way that we suggest you try to get rid of oakworms is to introduce some oakworm predators into your oak trees.

A simple way to get rid of oakworms would be to add bird feeders around the branches. Adding feeders will attract birds to the seed, but once the birds get there and see the oakworms, they will choose the oakworms over the seed.

You can add as many or as few feeders as you like, but remember, the more seed, the more birds! And because birds aren’t typically wreaking havoc on your trees, which makes them an easy wildlife animal to introduce to your environment.

Birds will, however, eat all types of seed. So, if you have just planted some grass or flowers, we don’t suggest doing this step until your grass and flower seed start to germinate.

Have A Professional Remove Them Manually

We are sorry to even say this, especially if you are squeamish, but the tried-and-true method of getting rid of oakworms on our oak tree is by physically removing them.

Now, first and foremost. If you attempt this method, it’s totally your call. We recommend contacting a professional first for identification, to make sure that you actually have oakworms caterpillars and not another stinging caterpillar.

Do not touch the caterpillars. Remember, you aren’t a professional and you don’t want to accidentally touch the incorrect caterpillar.

Below is an image of the Anistoa virginiensis (the pinkstriped oakworm) commonly found in the northwest to northeast.

Pink-striped Oak Worm Moth Caterpillar (Anisota virginiensis.)

Take a look at Wikipedia’s images and data on Anisota senatoria (the orangestriped oakworm here) commonly found in the north but can also be found in the south as well.

Now, back to removal.

Using gloves and a stick, and only if you are brave enough on your own, pick an oakworm off the tree do identify it. Make sure not to touch it until a professional is able to examine the oakworm.

Picking oakworms up from their bellies with a stick can be a way to get rid of them without harm and without using your fingers!

If your oak tree branches are high up, you may need to get a ladder to do this, and we also suggest bringing a bucket up with you so that you can place the oakworms into the bucket after you pick them for easier, cleaner removal.

If you and a professional determine that you do indeed have oakworms, we suggest spraying an insecticide, like BT, to prevent the oakworms from coming back.

They can cause damage for multiple seasons at a time, so its important to get rid of them before oakworms cause significant damage to your tree.

Other Types of Worms (Caterpillars) in Oak Trees

There are four common oakworms that you may see in your oak tree, and they all leave different signs of their presence in your oak tree.

Tent Caterpillar

A hairy oakworm with a red-brown body is one of the worms that create webs.

Tent caterpillars spinning a web.
Tent caterpillars spinning a web.

The name Tent Caterpillars comes from the fact that they literally make tents for their oakworm colony. Spinning silky webs around branches, Tent Caterpillars build these webs to keep the oakworms in and will help keep them safe from falling from the oak tree’s high heights.

The webs of Tent Caterpillars are detrimental to the health of the oak tree and are unsightly at that. Imagine a ton of Halloween spider webs hanging from your trees in clumps – that’s what these webs look like.

If you notice an abundance of webs forming, wait it out until the winter months, and take action when the tree becomes dormant. Pruning the branches that the webs are on is the way to protect your tree from an infestation to come.

YellowNecked Caterpillar

This yellow and black striped caterpillar – almost resembling a bumblebee but in oakworm form (no thanks), is a big threat to our oak trees.

The YellowNecked Caterpillars like to eat in foliage sections and will eat the entirety of one section of the oak tree and then move on to the next.

If you start to notice sections of your oak tree’s leaves missing, there’s a good chance you have some YellowNecked Caterpillars on the loose!

To prevent more foliage loss, if you notice empty sections, it’s best to find the culprit and act immediately. You can save the oak tree if you act quickly enough and get rid of these caterpillars.

Oak Leafroller

A relatively small caterpillar with a green or brown body and a dark-colored head, Leafroller oakworms are also web-making oakworms, but these guys act a bit differently.

Leafroller caterpillar on a green leaf.
Leafroller caterpillar on a green leaf.

Leafroller caterpillars literally roll the leaves within their webs. They can make a web the size of a branch, and instead of just keeping the oakworms safe, these webs are created so that these worms can eat branch by branch without having to worry about predators or competition eating them or their food.

Leafroller webs can get completely out of hand, and the oakworms can defoliate the entirety of the oak tree.

If you notice large webs that seem almost impossible to make – well, they are not impossible, and you most likely have a Leafroller infestation on your hands – well, technically on your oak tree!

If you’re finding that you have one of these oak caterpillars on your property, check out our guide with simple tips to remove caterpillars on your oak tree.

That’s a Wrap!

If you notice the presence of oakworms on your oak tree – you should act fast to prevent any infestation and to ensure your oak tree’s health.

A few oakworms here and there is not a problem, and honestly, let those little guys eat – but, when they get out of control, your oak trees can be completely covered, your outdoor spaces can become covered in fallen oakworms, and it will be just a complete mess!

To save your oak trees, use some of these simple steps to get rid of the oakworms, and if you’re not sure what to do, always check in with a professional.

To make sure you aren’t confusing oak worm damage with another oak tree affliction, check out our guide on what’s wrong with your oak tree here.

References:

Coffelt, M. A., & Schultz, P. B. (1990). Development of an aesthetic injury level to decrease pesticide use against orange striped oakworm (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) in an urban pest management project. Journal of Economic Entomology83(5), 2044-2049.

Coffelt, M. A., & Schultz, P. B. (1993). Quantification of an aesthetic injury level and threshold for an urban pest management program against orangestriped oakworm (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae). Journal of economic entomology86(5), 1512-1515.

Hiychcock, S. W. (1961). Egg parasitism and larval habits of the orange-striped oakworm. Journal of Economic Entomology54(3), 502-503.

“Tent Caterpillars – How Do I Get Rid of Tent Caterpillars?” Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, 4 Mar. 2019, https://agrilifeextension.tamu.edu/library/gardening/tent-caterpillars/.

Oak Leafroller – Fs.usda.gov. https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5347803.pdf. 

As fall comes around and the leaves continue to change, it is a good time to remember that there are more causes than the seasons that could result in your oak tree losing its leaves. Some animals and insects that eat oak tree leaves, so watch out!

Mammals, birds, and insects alike are all to blame for an oak tree’s leaves mysteriously disappearing. Five of the most detrimental animals and insects for oak trees include birds, oak leafrollers, oakworm caterpillars, tent caterpillars, and oak shothole leafminers.

Below, we are going to give you all the information you need to know about what is a healthy part of nature, and when an animal or insect is going too far in harming your tree’s leaves. So, keep on reading, and let’s get to learning!

What Animals Are Attracted to Oak Trees? 

Oak leaves are not the only attractive part of the tree when it comes to food sources. Over 100 species eat acorns, from squirrels and deer to wood ducks and wild turkeys. 

Many mammals are also drawn to an oak tree primarily because of its sheltering properties. On hot days, animals and people alike can find respite from the sun as they enjoy the shade from the oak’s massive canopy. 

On rainy days, though it is not recommended to sit near a tree in a thunderstorm, the many oak leaves help to block the wind and rain. Small animals especially, like raccoons, chipmunks, squirrels, and birds, take advantage of this helpful characteristic. 

Not only are creatures attracted to oaks for the acorns and the wonderful shelter, but they may also come specifically for something else: the leaves.

What Kind of Insects Are Attracted to Oak Leaves?

Leaves of oak tree with hoarfrost in forest in the winter

When it comes to insects and oak leaves, there should be quick action. Many species of moths use these leaves as their primary source of food, but some species of caterpillars and other similar bugs have an even more extreme negative impact on this important part of the oak tree.

Realistically, many more insects than animals eat oak tree leaves, and they are what you will need to watch out for the most.

What Kind of Animals & Insects Eat Oak Leaves?

There are not too many creatures that specifically opt to make a meal of oak tree leaves. Most prefer the fruit or an acorn as their oak tree source of food.

There are a few pests that you should be aware of, some of which are very harmful and some that are not too bad.

It is important to know what to watch for, so let’s talk the animals and insects that eat oak leaves:

●  Birds. Many species of birds feed on both oak leaves and the insects that cause them harm, resulting in a semi-beneficial relationship to the tree overall. Most of the time, birds should not be much cause for concern, even if they do eat a few leaves here and there. 

●  Oak Leafrollers. A very pesky caterpillar, this one has the potential to cause some serious and detrimental issues if not controlled. Luckily, North Americans do not have as much cause for concern at the moment, but being prepared is key.

●  Oakworm Caterpillars. They may be relatively easy to deter but, left untreated, these little critters can cause some serious havoc on oak leaves and, eventually, the trees themselves. 

●  Tent Caterpillars. These creatures chew leaves and spin silk. Sound like an annoying problem? That’s because it is- you don’t want these caterpillars around your oak trees. 

Oak Shothole Leafminers. These tiny bugs create big problems, and holes in leaves, that only get worse with time.

Clemson University’s Home and Garden Center shows that most threats to oak trees will be seen in the form of disease or insects that attack sap or bark, but the pests that attack oak leaves should not be overlooked.

Birds Eat Oak Leaves

Mighty Oak Tree in Green Field under blue skies with clouds, Spring Landscape under Blue Sky

Many of the same birds that eat acorns also eat oak leaves. This includes but is not limited to blue jays, wild turkeys, crows, mallards, woodpeckers, ducks, and more. 

Even more so than opting for a meal of leaves alone, the University of Florida Extension explains that oak leaves are often a casualty of birds trying to get to the insects in the tree, which do happen to feed on the leaves. 

So, if you see any type of bird perched on a limb of live oak, near a cluster of leaves or a pile of Spanish moss, just know that they are there to get a little more than just a tasty salad.

In fact, this is kind of an interesting situation because the birds feeding on so many types of insects that cause significant harm to a tree helps the tree to increase its growth. By consuming so many leaf-chewing insects, birds can eat some leaves and stilldo more good than bad to the tree itself. 

This is a sort of mutualistic relationship in a way. Birds get food, shelter, and some extra snacks while the tree does not have so many insects vying for its precious foliage. 

If you see many birds in your oak tree, remember that they are helping more than they are hurting. There is no real need to worry about these flying friends. 

When it comes to insects, however, that is another story…

Oak Leafroller Eats Oak Leaves

Oak leafrollers, otherwise known as green oak tortrix, are small caterpillars with a green or brown body. Typically, their heads are a bit darker. 

A particularly harmful critter, much more so than any of the birds mentioned above, this is one to watch for. 

Though not a threat yet in North America, this species is widespread in Europe and parts of Africa and Asia. There are a wide variety of suitable hosts all across the North American continent, so this is a creature to keep tabs on. 

Leafrollers spin webs across leaves to turn them into a feeding area that is more condensed and therefore safer. Over time, this can cause an entire tree to lose all of its leaves. 

So, how do you solve this infestation?

If the problem has not developed into a full-blown infestation, you could just take some trimmers like these ClassicPRO Titanium Bypass Pruning Shears to remove the clusters of leaves that have been affected. 

If this does not work, you may need to rely on some sort of bio-pesticide to get the job done for you. Protect U.S. mentions using BT, Bacillus thuringiensis, to treat true infestations as they occur.

As this is not an issue in North America quite yet, we’ll leave this one at that for now and hope that you won’t need to reference this section unless you are based in a location that is home to these pests.

Oakworm Caterpillars Love Oak

Spring Sun Shining Through Canopy Of Tall Oak Trees. Upper Branches Of Tree. Sunlight Through Green Tree Crown - Low Angle View.

Similar to the oak leafroller, this caterpillar has a body that begins as a greenish-yellow color but this creeping creature gets darker with age.

Between spring and summertime, these critters could completely defoliate a tree. Instead of spinning silk to cluster the leaves, they tend to munch directly on them until they are down to the veins. 

You’ll want to deter these pests quite early on to ensure that they do not overrun your tree entirely. This can be done by using the BT that we talked about in the last section. Read more about this here.

Something like this Garden Safe BT Worm and Caterpillar Killer can help. This product is intended for organic gardening and boasts that it will not harm beneficial insects or animals if used as directed.

You simply mix the product with water, as directed, and spray it on. You’ll need a ladder most likely, but that is a small step to curb a big problem!

If your tree is young and it is a manageable task, you can easily pick individual caterpillars directly off of the leaves. This is recommended only if the process of buying BT and using it would take longer than hand-picking caterpillars.

You can learn more about keeping oakworms off your oak tree here.

Oak Trees Are Feasted On By Tent Caterpillars

Thanks to the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, we know that tent caterpillar eggs are laid in clusters of 100 to 300. Now that is a LOT of potential pests coming to destroy your beautiful oak leaves. 

With a reddish-brown color and hairy body, this little pest can cause more damage than one might expect. While the first sign of infestation may be thinning crowns, another indicator is the constant dropping of caterpillar waste. 

Not only is this a messy, annoying dilemma, but these particular caterpillars have multiple methods of destroying your oak leaves. Along with weaving strands of silk that add a rather unseemly appearance to the overall look of the tree, these critters will chew right through your oak leaves. 

As the young caterpillars start working their chaos as buds begin to break in the spring, you can try to take a preventive step by either cutting branches in later winter or tree banding in early spring before the infestation can take hold. 

What is tree banding, you may ask?

Basically, you can wrap your tree in a sort of adhesive that is both environmentally friendly and incredibly effective at catching bugs of all kinds. 

This Catchmaster Tree Banding Insect Adhesive Barrier is both easy to use and yields great results. The downside to this product is that it can harm non-target insects and may affect birds, squirrels, and other tree-dwelling critters. You can minimize the risk by putting chickenwire fence over the substance.

Oak Shothole Leafminers Eat Oak

These pests are particularly bothersome because they do not just eat the leaves. Instead, the adult females begin by puncturing into them to consume their sap. This leads to holes forming and expanding as the insects continue to feed and the leaves grow with the season. 

As blotches expand, the leaves weaken and offer up an even more vulnerable area for consumption both by these oak shothole leafminers and other insects that are looking for an easy meal.

Instead of birds or caterpillars, this creature is a small fly that you’ll want to be on the lookout for. 

Unfortunately, there is not much of a solution for these pests, so we want to remind you of ways you can at least maintain control when it comes to their pesky peers.

Keeping Your Oak Leaves Safe From Animals & Insects

Acorns on a bed of autumn leaves

There are plenty of methods to help keep critters from eating your oak leaves.

Oklahoma State University tells us that livestock of any kind are much more likely to eat live, green leaves than they are to opt for a snack of dried and/or fallen ones. 

Here are a few methods to keep animals from feasting too frequently on your tree:

Trim Your Leaves If Needed

Remember that by catching the infestation early, you can save a lot of time, stress, and money. This is only going to be successful if there are not already too many insects causing the same sort of problem.

If you see certain insects on your tree and are not sure how bad things are, reach out to a local professional for help.

Use BT to Control Larger Infestations

Has your tree become overrun with pests that are eating, or otherwise destroying, your oak tree leaves? 

Using BT to spray should not cause harm to any beneficial insects, but will help take care of those that are attacking your oak’s foliage. 

Call a Professional

We mentioned it above and we’ll say it again here. If you are not sure how to handle a problem, cannot quite tell how bad it is, or just feel generally overwhelmed, leave it to the professionals!

This is a good way to ensure that the problem will not accidentally go unresolved, and will give you peace of mind from the security of knowing that someone is helping you get this issue under control.

Okay, It’s Time For Us To Leave!

Bad pun? Maybe. Good information? We certainly hope so!

Oak trees are wonderful organisms that do so much for the environment and the critters around them, but it’s good to be aware of those that might do your tree harm.

While oaks are extremely resilient, even they have their limits.

It’s okay to let birds eat leaves once in a while as they work to help you control the tree’s insect population, but this is not always something that you can rely on. While there is a semi-mutualistic relationship there, not every tree is going to draw in birds. 

Often, insects will try to overrun your tree so being a step (or two) ahead is important.

Remember, this article is not a completely comprehensive list of all the pests that may attack and consume your oak leaves, but it does include the most harmful ones. There are other species of caterpillars and flies that will have similar impacts. 

While we know it is not feasible to observe all of the leaves on your tree, especially when it is mature and towering over you and your home, ideally, this will help you feel prepared if you do stumble upon the realization that you have a problem.

We hope that this article helped you to feel more informed about the animals and insects that may feed off of your tree, as well as how to keep them at bay. 

Until next time, thanks for reading.

References

Marquis, R. J., & Whelan, C. J. (1994). Insectivorous birds increase growth of white oak through consumption of leaf‐chewing insects. Ecology, 75(7), 2007-2014.

McManus, Michael L.; Liebhold, Andrew M., eds. Proceedings: Ecology, Survey and Management of Forest Insects; 2002 September 1-5

Rubtsov, V. V. (1983). Mathematical model for development of leaf-eating insects (Oakleaf roller taken as an example). Ecological Modelling, 18(3-4), 269-289.

As you probably are aware, trees can provide food, nice views, and shelter. If you’re wondering how the shelter comes into play, you may want to know about the kinds of critters living your trees. 

Some of the most common animals and insects you will find living in trees are squirrels, geckos, raccoons, skunks, birds, ants, beetles, cicadas, caterpillars, and butterflies. These animals and insects typically use trees as a source of shelter to protect themselves from the elements.

Before we dive into learning about the animals and insects living in trees, it is important to first know why these creatures might opt to live in a tree in the first place. So, let’s get into it!

Why Do Animals And Insects Live In Trees?

Animals and insects often live in trees because they are multi-use beings, providing not only a home but also food, interaction with others of their species, opportunities for reproduction, and water. However, to be clear, each species will have its reasons for choosing a certain species of tree in any location. 

While it all comes down to access to the basics, animals and insects alike are complex organisms with reasoning to back their choices. Even if those reasons are more biological than they are intentional. 

Trees are great homes for a wide variety of life; between those who fly, climb, or stay closer to the ground, there is always something a tree can offer. 

Between safety, food security, and shelter from inopportune weather, animals, and insects, look for a reliable area to settle down and use what they have available to them.

Here are some of the common reasons animals and insects may opt to live in, or at least around, trees:

Protection From The Elements And Weather

When temperatures rise, or when rain becomes heavy, trees are a solid constant able to help animals stay safe from the elements.

Whether the leaves of branches help slow the impact of rainfall, or crevasses in the trunk allow little critters to escape the cold of winter, there are many ways trees can protect animals and insects alike.

Another benefit of the shelter of a tree is it allows critters to stay put while remaining near their food source, which brings us to our next reason.

Proximity To A Food Source

Animals and insects living in trees are constantly staying near their food sources. Whether it is squirrels eating acorns from their oak tree home, or birds flying down to the ground to find some worms, trees provide access to the food sources of their residents. 

The University of Vermont Extension uses the example of butterflies who feed on nectar as adults. They source the nectar from flowers on trees the butterfly is calling home. 

Now, not all animals or insects live in one tree for their whole lives. In fact, most do not. However, these plants can help to sustain and further other living beings’ lifespan. 

Speaking of a prolonged lifespan, predators cause quite a threat to the longevity of their prey. Trees can help with this as well. 

Hideout From Predators

Living tree branches and hollow trunks of dead trees both help their tenants in one very important area- protection from predators. 

The height of a tree’s canopy can often help small animals like squirrels and birds, and insects such as butterflies, to stay above their predators’ line of sight. Some predators may not be adept at climbing trees, which would make this an even more secure home base for all kinds of living critters. 

Fallen tree trunks, natural crevasses, and other tree-based homes closer to the ground still offer great predator protection. Animals like foxes, wolves, and coyotes are large enough they may not be able to stick their heads into some areas where smaller creatures like raccoons may live, let alone enter the space and attack their prey.

You Can Find These 9 Animals And Insects Living in Trees

Alright, let’s get to the good stuff now, shall we?

Here are a few, and just a few, of the animals and insects that call trees home. Of course, there are many more species you could include here. These are, however, 9 of the most common species recognized for living in trees.

Squirrels

Red squirrel sitting on the tree

To begin our list, we have squirrels- a rodent in the same family as marmots, chipmunks, prairie dogs, and more.

Squirrels are known best for munching on acorns while they are not terrorizing guests at college campuses throughout the United States. They love to build nests in the branches, in the space where single branches split into two or more, smaller branches.

Since these animals live among the branches, you can expect them to stay up there when a storm occurs.

Tufts University helps provide some reassurance that animals are safe in trees during a storm, as it notes that birds are much safer when utilizing their trees’ often thick connection of branches, twigs, and leaves. 

Hiding within the foliage of a tree is quite safe for the animals that live there!

Geckos

Talking about animals who live among the branches of a tree, geckos are fond of calling this type of environment home.

Geckos eat some insects, spiders, and other small rodents, but are not the common predator you might think of. Certainly not in the same way owls or foxes aggressively advance on their prey.

Among the branches, geckos may find another food source in small fruit. The size only matters because geckos choose meals they can fit into their mouths easily. Some larger fruit with certain exteriors is not going to be a simple meal for them.

Since this species also lives in the branches, they can stay safer from their predators, which include snakes and spiders. 

However, geckos living in the trees may have more to do with their particular species rather than the family of lizards they belong to. We have a feeling some lizards may not be so keen on living right next door to the birds, who may try to eat them instead.

Raccoons

Funny raccoon on a branch. Outdoor

Raccoons are excellent climbers, which leads to them finding housing in some pretty interesting locations. 

When it comes down to it, natural cavities in living trees or the open space under fallen trees are commonly the accommodation of choice for these critters. 

Between the safety from predators and the elements alike, raccoons and trees are like peanut butter and jelly, though the relationship here might just be a little more complex.

Raccoons are not picky eaters, clearly seen in how they dig through garbage, so the tree environment provides better resources than what they may seek on their own. 

These resourceful critters may have a reputation for getting in the way of people, but in nature and when left to their instincts, trees are pretty great real estate.

Skunks

Surprisingly, there is even a place for these smelly little critters among the trees. 

Much like raccoons, skunks favor the natural cavities that a tree might provide them. Any hollow tree trunks, space under fallen trees, or other natural nooks and crannies are very attractive places for skunks to settle into.

Skunks like to eat nuts, seeds, eggs, small insects, and birds, along with some other foods. While birds can stay safe up in branches above, skunks can find plenty of food in the tree they choose to live in. Whether they choose to munch on berries or worms, they will surely find something to snack on.

Birds

This one might be pretty darn obvious. Of course, birds live in trees!

The branches provide a great place for parents to nest and raise their young. The adult birds can leave for small periods to gather food for their young, while not being required to stray too far from the baby birds up above.

Since these creatures fly, the obvious choice for them is to live among the branches, giving birds a place to land easily while remaining suspended in the air they soar through all day.

Staying away from predators remains a concern, and the tall branches of trees help to keep these flying friends out of reach of the animals that may hurt or kill them.

You can make your tree more bird friendly by adding something like the Squirrel Buster Standard Squirrel-proof Bird Feeder. If you want the beautiful birds to stay around without being bullied by squirrels, this is perfect for you!

Ants

Out of all the insects out there, surely you have noticed ants crawling on the trunk of a tree. Perhaps you saw them as a child playing among the branches as you climbed toward the top of a tree.

Maybe you see them now as you climb trees, reconnecting with your inner child. We don’t know!

Ants are a common species, therefore it is not surprising these critters live in trees along with anthills. 

You could think of their setup as a ‘summer home’ sort of deal. Of course, ants love their hills, the structure of the community, and the challenge of producing food. However, that food has to be sourced from somewhere, and in nature, food may be sourced from trees. 

Ants rarely damage a tree. Instead, they make use of cavities and any rotten wood that may provide a suitable home. The only ant that may damage a tree are carpenter ants, but they can only dig tunnels in soft wood, meaning the tree may have already had wood rot.

They seek the sweet dew left behind by other insects but also can be protected from other predators by holing up above the ground.

Caterpillars And Butterflies

You know how butterflies have to go through a period of metamorphosis to become that final, beautiful form? Well, the caterpillars who turn into these flying works of art must build a chrysalis somewhere.

What place is better than a tree, which they can hang their chrysalis from while going through the most significant change of their life?

You see with these creatures how the distance from other bugs and animals can be helpful while a huge transformation occurs. 

This follows the same vein of not only safety but comfort and ease. Nature might center on things essential to life, but individual animals and insects can also certainly follow their desires for a more comfortable existence.

There are many types of caterpillars and not all are as likable as others, but if you are seeing your leaves are being eaten, or a tree seems to be taken advantage of, you can work with a trained professional in your area.

One type of nasty caterpillars are tent caterpillars, or silkworms. To learn more about what harm they can bring, and how to get rid of them, check out 7 Ways To Get Rid of Silkworms (Tent Caterpillars) For Good.

Beetles

Spruce bark beetle posing for the camera

Beetles are just another bug that lives in a tree, but why?

For these insects, it is all about the bark. Called bark beetles, quite creatively we might add, these insects are found in trees already declining or dead. Fallen trees or pieces of firewood may serve as a temporary home for these critters as well.

Iowa State University Extension tells us there are hundreds of species of bark beetles. 

If you are seeing these beetles in a mostly healthy tree, we recommend trimming or pruning any infested limbs. 

Otherwise, these beetles do not cause huge issues, since they seek trees that are already a viable host (meaning dead or declining). They may cause some annoyance, but are not a threat to humans.

Your house structure and furniture (processed wood) will also remain safe from bark beetles who opt to take advantage of resources already past their better phase of life. 

In a way, bark beetles are wonderful at repurposing space, and trees other species can no longer live in.

Cicadas

Have you ever heard the noise of cicadas in the summer? Just going on and on, for weeks at a time, if not longer. 

Not every place has cicadas, and they certainly do not always come with quite the same level of intensity every year. 

After living in the ground, which is a whole different story, cicadas will find a tree to attach to and lay eggs on.

This is a prime example of trees not only being used as a home but also as a site for reproduction and continuing the species.

Trees provide everything necessary for cicadas to continue out of the elements, away from predators, and near food sources, so that young can survive and thrive upon hatching. 

Eventually, it’s back to the ground, anyway. 

How Can Insects Or Animals Benefit Your Tree?

Green Day Gecko on Leaf Cute

Animals and insects can most definitely cause harm to plants, and sometimes they end up being quite the pests. However, this is not always the case.

Quite often, funny enough, these creatures and plants get along very well in a symbiotic relationship.

Removing Harmful Insects

One benefit of the regular critters who call trees home is they often work to remove insects causing a negative disruption to the balance of the tree’s ecosystem. Treecosystem, if you will.

They often want to protect their home, which means protecting the tree. Invasive pests and harmful critters will not stand a chance when faced with the typical tenants of a tree.

This may mean animals eat insects who could harm the tree, or they may simply scare other creatures off. Regardless of the situation, the tree gets some helpful protection and animals get to stake their claim.

Natural Fertilizer

Having animals can be especially helpful when you need a little extra natural fertilizer. 

Picking up what we are putting down?

If not, the animals will *cough, cough* use the restroom near the base of the tree. This will continue to break down and add some extra nutrients to your soil. 

So, let animals and insects make a home on a tree, and the tree will reap so many of the benefits. It’s all just one big natural cycle of repurposing and giving a little to get a little. 

Repurposing Trees That Are Otherwise Not Viable

Like we talked about with bark beetles, there is an entire sector of tree-wildlife relationships centering on fauna making use of rapidly declining or already dead flora.

For example, you may see an injured or dead tree from being in the path of a forest fire. You may also just assume this tree is pretty much out of commission, right? 

Not exactly. 

Trees that have fallen or been partially destroyed can offer great places for nests, dens, and other homes for animals and insects alike. They are usually searching for a space both protected from the elements and capable of housing multiple members of a group

That’s It For Now!

Well, that’s all we have for now. 

Stay tuned though, because there are always more trees, and insects and animals, to talk about. Nature is an especially incredible thing and we hope that you’ve enjoyed learning a little more about it in this piece. 

If you forget some critters we named in this article, never fear!

Here’s a final list of animals & insects who especially use trees as their home.

  • Squirrels
  • Geckos
  • Raccoons
  • Skunks
  • Birds
  • Ants
  • Caterpillars and Butterflies
  • Beetles
  • Cicadas

Just remember, these creatures make their home outdoors, using the materials and locations they have at their disposal. Please be mindful of this when looking to call an exterminator or pest control when a creature is not truly causing you any harm or extra stress.

If you have concerns about the safety or health of your tree, do some research and see what steps you can take to restore your peace of mind and maintain your tree’s health.

Thank you for reading!

I hope this article helps you along your ever-evolving tree journey.

References

Casipe, M. How These Animals Live in Trees Is Changing How People Live in Houses.

Ryan, K. C. (1994). Interactions Between Fire-injured Trees and Insects. In Plants and their environments: proceedings of the first biennial scientific conference on the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem (Vol. 93, p. 259). US National Park Service, Natural Resources Publication Office.

Floren, A., Biun, A., & Linsenmair, E. K. (2002). Arboreal ants as key predators in tropical lowland rainforest trees. Oecologia131(1), 137-144.

Wherever there are trees, there are bound to be insects. When you’re out in the summertime or walking through the woods, it is evident that bugs are present, but there are some trees that insects love even more than they like bothering you!

While trees in general attract variety of bugs and insects, these are the 6 most common types of trees insects adore:

  • Cottonwood Trees
  • Pine Trees (Conifers)
  • Mulberry Trees
  • Pear Trees
  • Apple Trees
  • Rotting Trees

Insects are attracted to these trees because they either have sweet sap, fruit, or shelter.

If you have any of these trees in your yard, there is a good chance you’ve seen quite a few insects roaming around as well. Let’s dive into more on why insects love being around these trees so much!

Most Common Insects To Find In Trees

There are quite a few insects that love to hang around trees because of the natural structure, safety and sheltering aspects they provide. Not to mention, they are also great sources of food or water and moisture for a lot of insects.

Specifically, moths, beetles, caterpillars, borers, and aphids are usually the most common types of bugs you will see in trees because they are burrowing insects at some point in their life cycle. The most common types of insects on trees specifically are the clearing and flathead boring beetles.

You can also take a look at our list on the most common animals and insects that live in trees if you’d like to learn more about the actual creatures, rather than the specific trees themselves!

Issues That Insects Cause To Trees

Wood-boring insects are usually pretty destructive and can cause quite a bit of harm if you aren’t aware of their presence, and sometimes it is hard to notice because these insects like to live under the bark. Usually, they weasel their way under the bark when a limb falls or the tree takes some sort of injury, this creates an open door under the bark’s surface.

When insects get underneath the tree’s bark like this, they can cause damage in a couple of different ways. First off, they will burrow even deeper into the conductive tissue under the bark which is responsible for transferring both water and sap throughout the tree.

After this, the tree’s tissue will essentially turn into decomposing matter. Because the tissue is underneath the bark, it creates a wound inside the tree that is now in the tree’s main nervous system. It is very hard to spot and it cannot be healed, once a tree starts to decompose you cannot reverse what has been done, you can only stop it from spreading further.

Because of this, insects can cause things like girdling, structural weakness and branch dieback in trees. This can also cause deformities in trees as they grow around wounds and try to repair themselves, almost like scars.

Insects Love Cottonwood Trees

Close up shot of eastern cottonwood at Las Vegas, Nevada

Cottonwood trees are one of the most common types of trees that insects are attracted to. Cottonwood trees are very old trees and they’ve been around for a long, long time. According to Lake Forest College, they are actually the oldest hardwood trees. 

Cottonwood trees produce a sweet-smelling resin-like sap, which makes bugs flock to them just because of the sweet scent they produce. Cottonwoods also have trembling leaves. Trembling leaves are ideal for bugs because they can easily stay on the leaves to munch, but it makes it difficult for predators to see and catch them when they’re moving around.

The bark on a cottonwood tree is incredibly thick, so it provides great shelter to bugs that want to burrow their way under and make a home. These cottonwood trees are also very susceptible to limbs falling, so it’s very easy for bugs to find access to the sweet-smelling home that lays under the bark’s hard exterior.

We will discuss later how insects love trees that are rotting, but cottonwoods are susceptible to rotting so they have another vote from insects on the best place to live. Cottonwoods are susceptible to rot because they need so much water, and if they don’t get enough the portion of the tree that doesn’t get enough water will start to rot away.

The most common insects to find on cottonwood trees are:

  • Wood leopard moths
  • Leaf feeders
  • Cottonwood borers
  • Poplar tentmakers
  • Carpenter worms
  • Mealybug
  • Clearwing borer
  • Redhumped caterpillars
  • Twig borers
  • Fall webworms
  • Leaf Curl Mites
  • Aphids
  • Oakworm

If you need to defend against these insects, Monterey LG 6299 Horticultural Oil Concentrate is great to help keep them away because it can be used when the tree or plant is in the dormant season or when it’s growing. It’s easy to use, just mix with water and apply to trees!

Pine Trees (Conifers) Attract Bugs And Insects

Beautiful pine trees on background high mountains.

Pine trees (or conifers) are another great place for bugs to invade. They have a sticky sweet sap that bugs are attracted to, and they have thick bunches of pine needles that make protecting themselves from predators a breeze.

Pine trees are usually a pretty wet wood, so it’s a great source of moisture and water for insects. Mosquitoes actually love them in the summer because of the moisture they provide under their thick foliage.

They are softwood, making burrowing a dream. They are also trees that are incredibly hardy and grow in the winter months, so they are a great choice when insects are looking for a place to get out of the elements.

According to the Oregon Department of Forestry, pine trees go through abiotic damage, this is damage caused by the environment. Any limb damage from the elements or things of that nature is considered abiotic damage. Because they are softwood trees that leaves them open to having not only exposed opening in their bark but they are also susceptible to rot.

When this happens, you can start to see markings on the trees from the damage the bugs have made from making their homes after they found a susceptible pine tree. You might see things like brown frass, pitch pearls, and streaming pitch on the bark of the tree if this has happened.

A lot of bugs are attracted to pine trees, like pine beetles, wood borers, defoliators, and sapsuckers. The most prominent type of bug that likes to be around pine trees according to the United States Department of Agriculture is the pine beetle. A fitting name, right?

These beetles like to make their way under the bark of a pine tree and then lay their eggs, feed off of the softwood of the tree, and essentially make themselves right at home. They can destroy a tree in a matter of a few short weeks and then they will turn around and move to a different tree and start all over again.

You can notice if a pine beetle is invading your pine tree if you see it start to turn red and then turn brown, if this happens you will want to look at ways to reduce your pine beetle numbers because they will continue to decimate pine tree populations.

You can remove trees that have been affected and trees that are injured or rotting. Pine beetles can be dangerous, and they are a big cause for concern. They wreak havoc on multiple pine trees, which then will become dry and can result in forest fires.

Pine beetles can damage tens of thousands of trees if not taken care of and they have caused mass destruction in pine tree numbers since the beginning of the 2000s.

You can check out more about pine trees in our article 5 Reasons Why Your Pine Tree Isn’t Growing (& How To Fix)!

Insects Thrive Off Pear And Apple Trees

Low hanging and easy to pick Conference pears at a low tree.

If I were a bug, I think these are the trees I would probably pick to make into my home. Pear trees and apple trees are a hot spot for bugs to live because, well you probably guessed it, the fruit they provide.

All fruit trees are attractive to bugs, but because pear and apple trees usually have fruit that stays on the tree a little longer to mature, they continue to attract insects.

It is said that a lot of people who plant fruit trees regret it once they find out how many bugs (and even animals) might come into their yard looking for a snack. 

Insects burrow into the bark and the fruit rather than just eat it and walk off. Insects are a bit harder to detect than deer or other animals when it comes to fruit trees, but they do leave some tell-tale signs that they’ve been around.

Insects can leave scabs on the tree or the fruit once they’ve infested it. They can also cause rot or mildew, which you can see on the bark and from the outside of the tree.

Most tree affilictions like fire blight are more common if insects are involved. This also includes cankers, flyspecks, blotch, freckles, and wilt. All of these things are common signs of insects hanging around your fruit trees.

Common types of insects you might see around pear and apple trees are weevils, mites, fruit flies, moths, aphids, slugs, and beetles. 

Mighty Mint 32oz Plant Protection Peppermint Spray is a natural alternative to insecticides that many people use on fruit trees to help keep away insects! It does a great job of handling the pests without being a chemical insecticide.

Insects Love Mulberry Trees & Their Fruit

berries of mulberry in foliage ripe on the branches of a tree, closeup

There are red and white mulberry trees with fruits that are pink, white, and purple. They are really attractive trees and their fruit is very fragrant, so you know what that means-insects are close by.

These trees are pretty susceptible to root rot because they are so used to dry soil and dry conditions if they get too much water they cannot handle it. Their roots then begin to grow mildew and rot and again-you know what that means (cue the insects).

When these trees get too wet, they also can get bacterial infections causing more rot throughout the tree. If they get too wet they are ideal living situations for insects and they meet all of the requirements to be move-in ready.

Whiteflies and mulberry flies are big pests to the mulberry tree and they can cause quite a bit of damage. They can eat the fruit as well as the inner workings of the tree, just like all of the trees we have talked about so far, the mulberry tree is no exception.

Neem oil is a commonly used oil for fruit trees, a lot of people like to take a more natural route for insecticides on fruit trees especially if they intend to eat the fruit. Bonide BND022- Ready to Use Neem Oil has a great ready-to-use formula that you can spray right on the tree to help protect it and keep it good for the long run. 

Rotting Trees Provide Shelter For Insects

Old rotten tree trunks with moss

Finally, we come to rotting trees. It doesn’t matter what type of tree it is, if it is rotting it is susceptible to bugs. Insects will find their way into rotting trees and feed off of them, but once they have done all the damage they can do they will move on.

Sooner or later, when they have gotten to all of the rotting trees they will move on to flourishing trees. When this happens, we see mass amounts of devastation in our forests and large numbers of issues within our trees.

If you have a rotting tree, we suggest that you call a professional arborist to assist you in cutting it down and to get rid of the tree to help avoid insects from inhabiting it. Not only will it save you time, but it will also save you in the long run money because you won’t have to cut down mass amounts of trees since you got rid of the one that was creating problems.

Also, if bugs are attracted to already rotting trees, they tend to wear them down even more, which then starts to weaken the structure, making those trees dangerous to be near due to a fall hazard.

We wouldn’t say if a tree has some rot that you definitely need to get rid of it. Like we said earlier, a tree might have rot that forms a callus around it and can still be in good shape. However, if you a mostly rotten tree, then it is an issue.

If you have a tree with some rot that you are not wanting to get rid of, you can try bug repellents on it to help keep the bugs away. Organic Laboratories 100-021 Lab QT Organocide is a great option to get rid of the insects you want, and not the ones you don’t. 

That’s A Wrap!

mountain river on a misty sunrise. amazing nature scenery with fog rolling above the trees in fresh green foliage on the shore in the distance. wonderful countryside landscape in morning light

Trees everywhere have been bothered by bugs since the beginning of time, and while there isn’t a whole lot we can do about it there are steps we can take to help keep our trees happy and lively while they provide a home for bugs and insects alike.

If you have any of these trees in your yard, try out one of the insecticides listed and see how it goes for you, just make sure to carefully read the label before trying it out and if you want to don’t hesitate to call a licensed professional for help! 

References

Durben, Rachel M., et al. “Beavers, bugs and chemistry: A mammalian herbivore changes chemistry composition and arthropod communities in foundation tree species.” Forests 12.7 (2021): 877.

Kiritani, K. “The impact of global warming and land‐use change on the pest status of rice and fruit bugs (Heteroptera) in Japan.” Global Change Biology 13.8 (2007): 1586-1595.

Ohira, Y. “Outbreak of the stink bugs attacking fruit trees in 2001.” Plant Prot. 57 (2003): 164-168.

Wermelinger, B. E. A. T., Denise Wyniger, and B. E. A. T. Forster. “First records of an invasive bug in Europe: Halyomorpha halys Stal (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae), a new pest on woody ornamentals and fruit trees?.” Mitteilungen-Schweizerische Entomologische Gesellschaft 81.1/2 (2008): 1.

Your Competitors Are Already Running Ads. Are You?

This is for landscaping business owners who are: