Remove and treat the plant. Keep an eye out for more. Check out the Budworm thread.
https://www.rollitup.org/t/yeah-its-bud-worm-season-pics.108398/ - Lots of good info here.
Get a hold of @nuggs. I think that he had a similar issue a few years back but it ended up being Russets. I don't wish them on anyone and hope that is not your issue.
Glad they were there for something else and didn't mess with you or the crew. Must have been a butt puckering moment seeing that coming up the mountain!