Tent Sale

[Gofor]

Anyone want to make an offer on one of these. Got plenty on the wild cherry trees in my woods:


Is there anything I should or can do to prevent damage to the cherry trees. Last year the trees did okay, and my grandnieces had a ball running over the worms with their bicycles, but it was a bit messy. Wife has this thing against worms/caterpillars, so if I can prevent the migration over the lawn I would like to try.

Go

[Jim Murphy]

Bagworms are more pernicious than crabgrass, but they share a need to treat with a pre-emergent. I haven't wrestled with them since I moved, and have forgotten exactly what and when, but you need to treat the ground with a chemical "this year" to prevent their appearance "next year." I found my info via Mr. Google, he'll probably work for this. As far as this year is concerned, letting the kids loose with the bicycles is as good as any.

[DaveO]

The Eastern Tent Caterpillar Malacosoma americanum is fairly obnoxious and unsightly in ornamental plantings, rarely a problem in wild trees. Most trees will recover quickly from the defoliation and sprout new leaves. Because they are one of the earliest pest to come out in the spring, the trees have ample time to recover from their feeding. Generally insecticides are ineffective against the mature larva, but if you get them early (like you have) Malathion can be effective. Also there is a great biological control Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis var. Kurstaki) that you might be able to find contained in some better "organic" control products for caterpillars.
Hand removal is the simplest, but somewhat messy method. I like to light the tents on fire and watch them burn

Dave

[DaveO]

Originally Posted by Jim Murphy

Bagworms are more pernicious than crabgrass, but they share a need to treat with a pre-emergent. I haven't wrestled with them since I moved, and have forgotten exactly what and when, but you need to treat the ground with a chemical "this year" to prevent their appearance "next year." I found my info via Mr. Google, he'll probably work for this. As far as this year is concerned, letting the kids loose with the bicycles is as good as any.

Jim, Bagworms Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis are a completely different beast. They are a pest of conifers, especially Juniper, Arborvitae, Pines and Cedar. They form little "bags" with some of the foliage they are feeding on

Often they go un-noticed because people think that they are cones, and are part of the plant.
Hand picking is the best solution for a small number. And you are correct, early control will help prevent more infestations. For more numerous populations I have found Orthene to be quite effective, and very stinky. And there is also biological controls in the form of specific Bt varieties that target the Bagworm.

Dave

[Gofor]

Thanks for the info. I will hand remove the ones I can get to, and at least mess up the tents on the ones too high, and probably live with them this year. Now that I know where they come from, (I didn't make the connection last year between the tents and the caterpillars) I will look for the Bacillus thuringiensis var. Kurstaki and see if I can apply it when the eggs sacks appear later this year. Being on the edge of a watershed, I try to use as few chemicals as I can, and in reality, as many cherry trees as are out there on neighboring properties/lots, etc, I am probably blowing sawdust against the wind whatever I do.
Sounds like they are more benign than the Japanese beetles later in the year. I trapped over a thousand last year, but was able to somewhat protect my crepe myrtles. I was going to use the Bacillus popilliae Dutky but after seeing the cost and amount needed for coverage (I have about 3/4 acre cleared and another thats woods/swamp), I opted for the area control using traps.

Thanks again

Go

[TBone]

My dad always used small pieces of rag dipped in kerosene tied to a long cane pole. May not prevent them next year, but will certainly stop this year.

[mkepke]

I find that a good dusting of Sevin will do them in too. Tear open the tents to ensure good contact.

I'm not sure that's much of an option for tents high in trees.

-Mark

[McRabbet]

DaveO and T-Bone hit on what we always did -- we'd soak a roll of TP in kerosene overnight and put it on an old broom handle or piece of EMT with a nail through the pipe below the roll and burn the little buggers. It works well to clear them out as high as your pole can reach.

[Tarhead]

One of my New Zealand co-workers was visiting a few years back during the late summer. I had him convinced we had some mighty big spiders here and they were capable of killing and eating small birds too. He was petrified to go into the woods.