You'll likely see these creepy fall web worms earlier this year

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — You'll likely see those spooky cobwebs in trees much earlier this year than others.

Channel 2's Berndt Petersen learned that the mild winter may have contributed to an earlier appearance of fall web worms -- the caterpillars that build creepy looking bags that look like big spider webs in trees.

They can defoliate a tree if there are enough of them.

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UGA agriculture extension agent  Abra Lee said the first time you see one, it can send 'shivers' down your spine.

"(I'm) just like anyone else (thinking) What is that? It's creepy. I don't want to be bothered, most people don't want to be bothered with worms and insects," Lee said.

Experts said there are often more of them after a mild winter, which the metro area just experienced.

Lee said the critters won't kill your trees but they certainly won't be as pretty with the webs all over them.

Lee said a webworm won't hurt you.

"They eat leaves. They don't eat people. They don't want candy. They just want the leaves," she explained.

If you've got some of these in your trees and you can't stand the sight of it, you could get rid of it.

Cox Media Group