I believe this purple flower is stock (Matthiola), from the Brassicaceae (cabbage) family.
Eastern Tent Caterpillar prefers foliage from the cherry (Prunus) and apple (Malus) family. Look for them the first week of April in hardiness zone 7.
They are a gregarious group of caterpillars. The moth that they form is a rather inconspicuous shade of brown.
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| Eastern Tent Caterpillar (Malacosoma americanum)
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| Eastern Tent Caterpillar (Malacosoma americanum)
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| Eastern Tent Caterpillar (Malacosoma americanum)
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| Eastern Tent Caterpillar (Malacosoma americanum)
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| Eastern Tent Caterpillar (Malacosoma americanum)
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Eastern Tent Caterpillar (Malacosoma americanum)
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