Paw Paw pests! - Ask Extension
This is my third year of growing paw paws. I've never had pests on them before. What are these small black worms/caterpillars with webs and how can I ...
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Paw Paw pests! #942307
Asked August 13, 2026, 11:08 AM EDT
This is my third year of growing paw paws. I've never had pests on them before. What are these small black worms/caterpillars with webs and how can I get rid of them?
Charles County Maryland
Expert Response
The photos aren't large enough for us to see the caterpillars clearly, but based on the symptoms and your description, it's likely the Asimina Webworm Moth. They are a native insect found across Maryland which uses only pawpaw as its host plant, just like the Zebra Swallowtail butterfly does.
They do not cause serious or long-term damage to the tree and can be ignored. If you feel you must remove them, trimming off the leaves (not the branch or twig itself, just the individual leaves) that they are residing in will suffice. Plenty of predators, like birds and wasps, will also eat the caterpillars. Even if you opt to do nothing, the tree will be fine and leaf-out normally next year. (If it does not, something unrelated to the caterpillar activity was responsible.)
Miri
They do not cause serious or long-term damage to the tree and can be ignored. If you feel you must remove them, trimming off the leaves (not the branch or twig itself, just the individual leaves) that they are residing in will suffice. Plenty of predators, like birds and wasps, will also eat the caterpillars. Even if you opt to do nothing, the tree will be fine and leaf-out normally next year. (If it does not, something unrelated to the caterpillar activity was responsible.)
Miri
