I am noticing tents of caterpillars in fruit trees and other trees now. The adult moth lays eggs in a crotch of trees and the little caterpillars start spinning a web around the congregation. As they grow the tent becomes larger. As the caterpillars start to feed, they come back to their nest for protection. When it is cold or wet, they stay in their nest to keep warm.
For large trees will recover, smaller trees do not respond well to this threat. Remove the tent with your hand or stick in the early morning. If this method is to “gross”, fill a sprayer with soapy water or insecticide and with the nozzle poke a hole into it and spray.
A way to prevent this pest is to keep your bird feeders filled, the caterpillars are a delicacy to the birds.