When canker worms are born, they’re hungry. They eat what’s around them, and that usually means the leaves they’ve lived on while in their eggs. If a canker worm infestation is big enough, it could completely defoliate a tree. Typically, even in these rare circumstances, that won’t kill the tree. The tree will grow it’s leaves back.
That being said, if the defoliation is significant, your trees might be at risk of other issues. If your trees are working hard to replace their leaves, they might have a harder time fighting off other diseases or insect infestations. This becomes harder for a tree if it has to fight to rebuild itself season after season.
Of course, if your tree is already healthy (with lots of water and the right fertilizers) it will be better able to fight off the effects of defoliation and disease. If you want to give your tree additional help, be sure to add a tree band. Tree bands are the best way to prevent next Spring’s canker worm infestation.
Not really. They can’t bite you or spread disease. That being said, I’m sure you’ve heard stories of joggers on the Booty Loop twisting an ankle while trying to avoid them. Springtime bike riders in Dilworth might also be distracted by these pesky inchworms, too. While a canker worm has never hurt anyone intentionally, they might have resulted in an injury or two.