I have a plum tree and it has an insect problem. Doesn't really hurt the tree and doesn't hurt the fruit, but is annoying to say the least. Right when the flowers fall off and the leaves get going strong I have an army of little caterpillars descending out of the tree on silken threads. I have not been able to identify these little buggers. I don't know what adult it becomes. They are a quarter inch long, purple with black faces. Legs in front and back.
Buggin' me for years, what is it?
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As long as they don't weave webs, I wouldn't worry about them. I've seen them as long as I can remember and they're nowhere near the problem of Tent Caterpillars. I expect the adult is a small, essentially harmless moth.
If you're really weirded out, there are dusts and soaps that work on pretty much all caterpillars that can be safely applied to all manner of trees.
BTW, your description says purple but your photo says carrot orange.
If you're really weirded out, there are dusts and soaps that work on pretty much all caterpillars that can be safely applied to all manner of trees.
BTW, your description says purple but your photo says carrot orange.
Yeah that's why I mentioned the color. The picture didn't accurately reproduce the color.
They were not too bad this year, but they have years that cover the tree in threads. When the wind blows the threads twist into ropes and stick to everything. When I was trying to get a good picture I saw one of those little jumping spiders running off with one of those caterpillars clamped in it's jaws. Spiders eat anything 
If I recall my color wheel, orange is about 120 degrees off of purple. Is the bag something other than white that caused the white balance to be so far off?
Some are, some aren't. Jumping spiders tend to be pretty creepy because they move so fast and they will bite if cornered.
At least they're no Black Widow or Brown Recluse.
It is a silver tarp.
This is not an easy picture to take. Bright morning sun and the camera wants the flash turned on. But see how this looks. Almost a translucent body.
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