9744 who the heck are you?

Oh dear.

Looks like the dreaded tent caterpillar. Yes, they can strip a tree in no time. They also build horrible web-like enclosures when they pupate.

OH NO !!!

oh yes!! this caterpillar grows to a huge size as well. and it has red on it...which is not present on the regulario tent caterpillar! I've even found them on my thorny rose..so they have no fear of spines! I thought we would have a respite from them this year..as they were VERY prevalent last year. I'm hoping that it's some beautiful butterfly or moth... and I've quelled the urge to squish by hand because I've read that some fuzzy caterpillars (tussock moth) can be venomous!... https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/venomous-caterpillar-concerns-southern-ontario-health-unit-1.1894767

Crikey! Not what you want to see on your fruit trees or any plant! I hope it isn’t the venomous type, Lori! I do hope they haven’t been causing you too much devastation?

I've been watching for some huge moth. I don't think it's a butterfly. I've had my nymphaea in a huge tub while I've been working on the pond, and I even found one of them voraciously consuming the nymphaea leaves! they grow to a huge size... approx. 2" long and the size of my little finger.