Acer platanoides Fine Webbing - Causes & Fixes

Jump to cause: Spider Mites (Tetranychidae) Spotted Tent Caterpillar Fall Webworm

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Spider Mites (Tetranychidae)

Tiny arachnids feed on the underside of Norway Maple leaves, injecting toxins that cause stippling and leave behind fine silk webbing as they move across the foliage. This is most common during hot, dry periods when the tree experiences drought stress.

Very Common

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How to confirm: Hold a white piece of paper underneath a leaf and tap it sharply to see if tiny crawling dots fall off.

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1 Apply an organic insecticide to eliminate the spider mite population and destroy eggs, larvae, and adults.

Bonide Captain Jack's Neem Oil 32 oz

0.9 L • 1 pcs • Organic

$10

In Stock

2 Increase humidity around the foliage and ensure the tree is well-hydrated to reduce the drought stress that attracts mites.

GROWIT Soil Moisture Meter SMM-V3

Water Meters

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3 Prune and dispose of heavily infested or dead foliage to prevent the mites from spreading to healthy parts of the tree.

Fiskars 5/8" Bypass Pruning Shears

Cutting Tools

$13

In Stock

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Spotted Tent Caterpillar

While primarily known for large silk tents in branches, younger larvae can create fine webbing patterns on the leaf surfaces as they migrate and feed on the foliage of Acer species.

Common

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How to confirm: Inspect the larger branch junctions for thicker, more concentrated silk structures or visible green caterpillars.

build How to fix it

shopping_cart Recommended Products

1 Inspect the tree for larger silk nests in the branch crotches and manually remove them by bagging and disposing of them to prevent further larvae from spreading.

2 Apply an organic insecticide spray to the foliage to target the larvae and prevent further feeding on the leaves.

Bonide Captain Jack's Neem Oil 32 oz

0.9 L • 1 pcs • Organic

$10

In Stock

3 Monitor the tree regularly using a fine mist to check for new webbing patterns or emerging caterpillars.

Flora Premium Plant Mister

Spray Bottles

$12

In Stock

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Fall Webworm

In late summer/early autumn, these larvae construct silken webs that enclose clusters of leaves to protect themselves while feeding on the Norway Maple's canopy.

Common

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How to confirm: Look for dense, opaque silk nests covering entire leaf clusters rather than just thin strands between individual leaves.

build How to fix it

shopping_cart Recommended Products

1 Manually remove the silken webs and the larvae inside by pruning the affected branches or hand-picking them from the canopy.

2 Apply an organic insecticide spray to the tree to target any remaining larvae and prevent further infestation.

Bonide Captain Jack's Neem Oil 32 oz

0.9 L • 1 pcs • Organic

$10

In Stock

3 Monitor the tree closely for new webbing, especially during late summer, to ensure the population does not rebound.