Prune the Affected Branch – Silkworms won't kill off a branch, but sometimes the easiest way to get rid of them is to prune the branch where the nest is built. Use Insecticide – If your trees are being overrun by hungry silkworms or you have a number of young saplings, it's time to consider using insecticide.

Will webworms kill a tree?

In some cases defoliation may be extreme, but lasting damage to trees is rare. The impact of these pests is usually fleeting and strictly cosmetic. There is generally no harm in leaving these webs intact. Eventually the nests will break apart on their own as webworms prepare to overwinter and leaves will regenerate.

Do silkworms hang from trees?

Their feeding is usually of little consequence to the oak trees – there are plenty of leaves for the tree and the worm. ... The wind dislodges them from their lofty dining rooms in the trees and they hang suspended in midair by a thin silk line. As you walk through the area the silk and worms cling to clothes and skin.