by Nicole Kraft, communications director, USTA

Du Quoin, IL — Signs of tent caterpillar webs in the trees across part of the Midwest has at least one breeder calling on the impacted states to take precautions so that they do not face the crisis suffered a few years ago by Kentucky breeders.

Meg Jewett Leavitt of Walnut Hall Ltd., in Lexington, spent the weekend in Illinois to watch Deweycheatumnhowe — a horse she co-owns and will next year stand at stud — win the World Trotting Derby. While there, she could not help but notice the tent caterpillar webs in the trees along the roadside, prompting her caution.

Just seven years ago Kentucky suffered through a summer of Eastern tent caterpillars that resulted in numerous foal losses in what was termed Mare Reproductive Loss Syndrome. The exact mechanism by which the caterpillar caused MRLS is still under investigation.

Tent caterpillar webs have been spotted in parts of Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana and Illinois.