Bagworms

Bagworms are caterpillars that form a small bag or cocoon - like pouch that hangs down on the leaves and branches of shrubs and trees. The bags are made of silk, with bits of twigs and leaves interwoven to disguise and strengthen the bag. The larvae or caterpillar eats the foliage of the plant. Their feeding can cause extensive damage to several different ornamental trees and shrubs.

TYPES

Twenty species in the United States.

HOSTS

128 plants. Mostly Arborvitae, Juniper, Cedar, Elm, White Pine, Honeylocust, Norway Maple, Hemlock Spruce

CONTROL

If your shrubs have a small infestation, pick the bags off the plant. Put them inside a jar or coffee can and dispose of them in the garbage can. Bags left hanging on the shrub or tree contain females that can produce 500 to 1000 eggs within the bag. They will overwinter, and hatch the following May.

For larger infestations, spray the entire shrub. It will take 2 to 3 sprayings, with a one-week interval between each. For best results, treatment must be made when the bags are still small. Watch for bagworms in late May and early June and treat at the first signs of activity.

Spray with one of the following:. Pesticides vary in strength. ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW LABEL DIRECTIONS WHEN USING PESTICIDES :

• Garden Tech Sevin = Concentrate, Hose-end-Sprayer and Ready-to-Use trigger spray
• Ortho Systemic Insect Killer = C, HES, RTU
• Bonide Malathion Insect Control = C only
• Bayer Advance Garden Power Force Multi-Insect Killer = C only
• Bonide Eight Insect Control = C, HES, RTU
• *Bonide Thuricide = ("BT"; i.e., Bacillus Thuringiensis) = C only
• *Montery Garden Insect Spray = C only
• *Safer Bio-Neem Insecticide & Repellant = C, HES, RTU
• *Organocide = C, HSE, RTU

(* denotes Organic Product)