Tent caterpillars

These are the first I have seen this year. We often get them on the black walnuts. They make a mess of the trees but don't kill them. The moths, which fly high, lay their eggs on the trees and the caterpillars make these webs and eat the leaves and branch endings inside the tents. They fall to the leaf litter where they pupate. Sometimes you can see masses of caterpillars inside the webs. Here, there are only dead leaves and twigs.

A much cooler day today, very pleasant after another inch of rain last night. No rain in the forecast till next Thursday now. Should be able to get quite a bit of fall clean up done in the garden.