Question
We have an Oak tree and a maple tree in our front yard. This
morning I noticed tiny web like strings coming from the
trees to the ground. There were a lot of them, enough to
span from the edge of our house to the opposite end of the
neighbor's house. The were reflecting off of the early
morning sun. What could be causing these web strings and how
do we treat it?

Answer
Hi Kristin:
I expect these strings to be associated with insects that are residing in the trees that are using these to navigate to the ground as a dispersal method.  

If the two trees are growing nicely and have no visible leaf spots, decay etc. and have leafed out each spring and have a full complement of leaves, I would not be concerned. I expect these insects do not have a significant impact on the overall health.  

If you can get a good picture of this I'd love to have a copy.

Regards
Steve


Kristen (11-09-10) Additional information  (9:00am CST).

I spoke to an Entomologist just a few minutes ago and these strands are probably strands of silk that may have been spun by a type of caterpillar that it uses to drop to the ground.  This insect may pupate in/on the ground during the winter months.  Sometimes spiders do this, but the silk does not often go to the ground.  It is used to give the spider a gossamer parachute to catch the wind currents and travel from one location to another.

S