# What's eating these trees? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 12, 2014, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-eating-these-trees/690603 "2014-06-12T04:43:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Renee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/renee/32/287_2.png) [@Renee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renee)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2014, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-eating-these-trees/690603/1 "2014-06-12T04:43:05Z")
I have a stand of these trees, I don’t know what they are, and they’re being eaten. What might be doing this? I’m not seeing any active bugs or caterpillars or anything, just the bubbles on the undersides of the leaves. These are mature, healthy-looking trees, about 30’ tall. Edit: Central Missouri [Close up.](https://scontent-a-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfa1/t1.0-9/10274020_717483578294925_5162395620881323253_n.jpg) [Tree.](https://scontent-a-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xaf1/t1.0-9/10274020_717483574961592_4440661112499118628_n.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2014, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-eating-these-trees/690603/2 "2014-06-12T05:03:52Z")
The “bubbles” are [galls](http://www2.ca.uky.edu/entomology/entfacts/ef403.asp), and are unrelated to the damage. It’s almost certainly caterpillar damage, and if you look hard enough, you will find them. One hungry caterpillar can eat a leaf pretty quickly. ---
**Author:** ![Renee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/renee/32/287_2.png) [@Renee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renee)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2014, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-eating-these-trees/690603/3 "2014-06-13T02:33:24Z")
Thanks, **beowulff.** ---
**Author:** ![Fishtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ed655f/32.png) [@Fishtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fishtar)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2014, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-eating-these-trees/690603/4 "2014-06-13T03:06:47Z")
I think it is an elm tree, and if so your enemy caterpillar might the spring cankerworm. If so, can control them with sticky traps wrapped around the trunk. Found a local link [http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/your-garden/help-for-the-home-gardener/advice-tips-resources/pests-and-problems/insects/caterpillars/cankerworms.aspx](http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/your-garden/help-for-the-home-gardener/advice-tips-resources/pests-and-problems/insects/caterpillars/cankerworms.aspx) ---
**Author:** ![Renee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/renee/32/287_2.png) [@Renee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renee)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2014, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-eating-these-trees/690603/5 "2014-06-13T03:29:49Z")
Cool. 🙂 Are they likely to kill the trees, or just make it look less fabulous? And is it too late for this year? ---
**Author:** ![Fishtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ed655f/32.png) [@Fishtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fishtar)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2014, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-eating-these-trees/690603/6 "2014-06-13T03:35:01Z")
> [@Renee](#): > > Cool. 🙂 Are they likely to kill the trees, or just make it look less fabulous? And is it too late for this year? Will not kill them, unless the damage gets much worse and they are sickly trees to start with. And perhaps the little beasts are done with feeding this year, which is why you cannot find any. ---
**Author:** ![Renee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/renee/32/287_2.png) [@Renee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renee)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2014, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-eating-these-trees/690603/7 "2014-06-13T04:08:14Z")
Thanks. The trees look otherwise fine, and most of the leaves are undamaged, so I won’t worry about it. Nice to know that they’re probably elms, too. At least the caterpillars aren’t building those horrid silk nest things in the trees (yet…).