Tent Caterpillars Plentiful this Year (KELA Radio, Centralia, WA)

(CHEHALIS, WA) -- Some people find them really disturbing.  Tent caterpillars are plentiful this year.  The WSU Extension Office in Chehalis says it’s from the mild winter.   The uptick in the tented-bugs also has been leading to more calls into the local office, especially if they’re found inside people’s homes. The office’s Debbie Burris says the insects are harmless, but rank pretty high on the creepy scale.  Burris says if the tree is healthy, they usually won’t do any damage.