'Tents' on apple trees

[ken]

A bit concerned to spot a couple of dense cobwebs or 'tents' on my cordon apple trees today. They weren't too big, and if they were created by tent caterpillars, I failed to see any of the caterpillars themselves. I removed the tents, wearing gloves. The trees' leaves underneath had been completely stripped. Any clues?

[robo]

If we where in spain I would say procession catapillars they kill pine trees have what you describe to hold the eggs then they feed on the tree only leave it when its dead move in one long line to the next one hence the name, very fury and dangerous to animals and humans if touched I dont think we have them in this country but always a possibility