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The outbreak started around Aug. 15; with the life cycle of the cankerworms being 4-6 weeks, their time as caterpillars is almost over.

The Eastern tent caterpillar, the tomato hornworm, the gypsy moth caterpillar, the fall cankerworm — these pests belong to the darker side of the order Lepidoptera.

Chickadees and other winter-resident birds can protect orchards against the cankerworm.

Helmick says large cankerworm infestations also have been reported in eastern Virginia.

You will often find them among fruit and shady trees; they like old orchards where they hunt for cankerworms.