Cankerworms are from the Geometridae family and eat the foliage of trees. When these worms gather in large numbers, they destroy the foliage in record time. Once the leaves are gone and there is no more food, the worms leave the tree by jumping and sliding to the ground on silk threads.

Why are there worms hanging from trees?

PINELLAS COUNTY, FLORIDA

The little green worms hanging on a silk thread from Oak trees throughout Pinellas County are Oak Leafrollers and are harmless – a nuisance but harmless. The little green worms feed on Oak Tree leaves and then do what most caterpillars do – form a cocoon and then turn into a moth.

What are the worms that dangle from trees?

Cankerworms are also known as inchworms. There are many different species of these worms, and they infest a wide variety of trees including maple, beech, elm, apple and oak. Larvae feed on young leaves, and large populations of inchworms can defoliate entire trees.