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Can my tree survive the catipillars?

16 years ago

I have a flowering crabapple tree that has been ravished by catipillars. It looks like the majority of the leaves have been eaten. I love this tree as it is beautiful in the spring and provides privacy when we use our pool. It's about 10 years old. It gets infested every year, but this is the worst. Is there a good chance it will survive? If it does, what's the best way to protect it next year? I just saw the first of the Japanese beetles yesterday. I hope they don't get it next! Also, when will the catipillars be done for the year?

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Comments (6)

katrina1
16 years ago
I hope your tree does recover again this year.

Concerning how to prevent such damage next year, Bayer sells a systemic product, which if applied each fall will protect the tree from being attacked from both such and other pests that would otherwise attack the tree in the following Spring thru Fall.

Since the tree is now so stressed, I would definately be concerned about the Japanese beetles. Hopefully someone else will know and respond with instructions on how to prevent Japanese beetles from attacking your stressed tree this month.
rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
16 years ago
There is evidence that pollen and nectar produced by plants that have been treated with Imidicloprid (the active ingredient in the Bayer's pesticide) cause serious problems for pollinating insects. Since crab apples are a honeybee favorite, this would not be a good option.

What kind of caterpillars are you dealing with? Tent caterpillars?
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lisa2004
Original Author
16 years ago
I believe they are tent caterpillars. I didn't see any huge tents, but there are some smaller ones. When we were kids we called them gypsy moths...not sure if they are the same thing.
sam_md
16 years ago
A knee-jerk reaction might be to saturate the tree with insecticide. But I have a better idea.
Identify the caterpillar and learn its life cycle. Tent caterpillars form their tents or webs in the crotches when cherry and crab apple first start leafing out. If no one is monitoring the tree the young foliage can be eaten but the tree usually bounces back.
Learn how to recognize the egg masses on twigs. They look like they are coated with brown varnish. This is how they overwinter. Remove them one by one and put them in the fire. No toxic spraying needed.
Sam
lisa2004
Original Author
16 years ago
Normally I don't use chemicals and I agree with removing egg masses. However, this tree is about 25' high by 15'wide with pretty dense branches. I don't see how I'd ever be able to get to, or even see them. I'm no expert, which is why I asked the question, but I don't think the tree will survive many more years of this. The tree looks nearly like it would in the middle of winter. It has been attacked yearly (my kids call it the worm tree) but not as severely.
glen3a
16 years ago
How about a product like BTK biological insecticide?

Apparently it takes a few days to work, however, but the caterpillars supposedly stop feeding and eventually die.

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