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When will the catipillars be done destroying my plants??

15 years ago

This is the second year in a row that either tent catipillars or gypsie moths (not sure of the difference, perhaps it's both) are destroying everything...trees, bushes, etc. My crab apple tree doesn't have a single leaf left on it and my wisteria is nearly as bad. If I remember correctly, last year about this time they were done (and became moths or whatever they become). For next year, is there anything that can be done? Also, this is my wisterias 3rd year...I know its a tough vine but will it survive repeated attacks like this?

Comments (7)

Kimmsr
15 years ago
What, if anything, have you done to control these wee buggers?
During the winter you can find, and destroy, the egg casses of both the Tentworm and Gypsy Moth caterpillars which can help reduce the populations of them in the spring. For those that hatched out because you did not find the egg cases a very effective means of control is spraying, in the early life stages of these buggers, Bacillus thuringiensis - Kurstaki onto the target tree leaves. A colder than normal spring may have delayed the maturing of these critters.
It is not good for your plants to allow them to continue year after year devouring the leaves from those trees. That weakens the trees and they can die.
malorn
15 years ago
Google "gypsy moth new york".. I'm assuming the NY stands for New York...The NY dept of Environment has an excellent page with ideas about control...

I"ve included a direct link to the page I frequent from UMass...at the bottom it gives the other links to the tent cats so you can figure out which you have...

Here in Mass...they are proclaiming that the numbers will be few this year due to natural cycles, previous deforestations that have removed their food source..(not a pleasant thought) and we have a natural occuring fungus that is killing some of them off, along with an imported fly, that is being released in a control study, their supposed to feed on the cats..then die off..Not sure how I feel about that either...so many imports or genetically atered things can go sour in a few years!

Here is a link that might be useful: UMass cat info
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calliope
15 years ago
If what you have are tent caterpillars then it should be pretty obvious by the 'tents' of webbing in the trees. I think it would be helpful for you to decide what type of pest you are dealing with. Then, take it from there.
lisa2004
Original Author
15 years ago
After viewing the UMass sight I believe that I have both gypsy moth and tent catipillars but the gypsy moths seem much more numerous. I've only seen two or three "tents" in the trees. Does Bt work on both of these? Is there a way to apply it other than to the leaves? (The tree is kind of tall, not sure how I'd do it). Thanks again.
Kimmsr
15 years ago
BTK, Bacillus thuringiensis - Kurstaki, will work on both of those pests and is, during the early stages of life of either one, the primary means, the first choice, of control. This is what most all state or local units of government had sprayed at one time. But after the fourth week of life this is not as effective, however in most places both of these wee buggers are being infected with another disease that kills them, or at the least renders them unable to produce eggs.
lisa2004
Original Author
15 years ago
That's strange...why are they suddenly being infected with this disease? Was it a natural occurrence or was it something that they were intentionally infected with to get rid of them? Anyway, you'd never know it by looking at my trees! And I picked hundreds of egg "pods" off my crab apple tree...thought for sure I had spared it from another attack and yet somehow, once again there isn't a leaf left on it!
hairmetal4ever
15 years ago
Tent caterpillars were done feeding a month ago - it's all gypsies now.

Crab apples can also lose leaves due to scab - it also happens at this time of year.

Do you have oaks? If they're not bare and they are near the wisteria and crab, then it ain't gypsy moths because they will eat oaks over ANYTHING else.

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