Question
Hi,
i live in the metro Atlanta, GA area.  i planted 6 gray/blue green cypress trees in the fall of 2006.  they have been thriving until this year.  about 6 weeks ago one began developing brown tips which would fall off making the tree smaller until it died.  i keep examining the others. there are no obvious insects.  the only thing i have seen is spider webbing around the base of the trunk and occasionally tiny white moths.  i would think if there are any spiders they would be feeding on larvae. correct? i read an answer on tent worm and have seen nothing like that description.is there a moth that nests in the AZ cypress?  i sprayed insecticide soap on the trunks of the remaining 5.  i really love these trees and want to save them.  what else should be done?

Answer
Sounds like one that died and the others look fine. The one that died sounds  like an insect called tip moth that killed the tips of the branches. This insect will infest stressed trees and I would say this one tree was more than likely in that category. If the others are green and healthy looking I would not worry. Spiders do build webs at the bottom of tree trunks to catch insects but do no harm to the tree. Unless you see any feeding from caterpillars on the foliage the moths you saw could have been any one of several 100 species of moths that cause no damage to trees. I would not see the need to spray anything unless you see damage. It does no good and wastes money.