Forest tent caterpillars, or Malacosoma disstria, create tent-like webs in trees during the spring, according to the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks.
These tents are most commonly seen on sweetgum and oak trees, especially in bottomland areas. The caterpillars use the tents for protection while feeding on leaves.
While they may cause temporary damage to trees, most healthy trees recover and are not killed by the caterpillars, officials said. The caterpillars also serve as an important food source for wildlife, particularly birds.
Photographer Chelsi Burns of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service captured images of the webs, highlighting the natural phenomenon.
