How long does an eastern tent caterpillar stay in its cocoon?
. Caterpillars emerge from over-wintering eggs in the spring when the new leaves are beginning to unfold. Young caterpillars stay together and move about in a single file, following silk trails. They often congregate to rest or molt on silken mats found on the trunk or branches. Five to six weeks after hatching the caterpillars finish feeding and spin cocoons of yellow silk in folded leaves (fig. 6), bark crevices or other sheltered areas. In these cocoons, the caterpillars change to pupae. The adult moths emerge about 10 days later. The moths are night fliers and are attracted to lights so many egg masses are often located in well-lit areas.
