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Home , Eastern tent caterpillar, Fall webworm, Tent caterpillar

Mimosa Webworm Insecticides Nebraska Forest Service Identification Several insecticides are available for control of • Leaflets of honeylocust turn brown; leaflets on ornamental trees. Read the label webbed together. carefully to determine if your tree and is Bagworms, Webworms • Small, tan, brown or greenish caterpillars within listed, and apply the product according to label and Tent Caterpillars webbing. directions. Trade names are given as examples of available products. No endorsement is implied.

Bt or Bacillus thuringiensis (Dipel; Thuricide) Spinosad (Ferti-lome Borer, Bagworm, Leafminer & Tent Spray; Monterey Garden Spray; Conserve*) Permethrin (Eight; Hi-Yield 38 Plus; Astro*) Cyfluthrin (Bayer Advanced Multi Insect Killer; Tempo*) Tebufenozide (Confirm;* Mimic*) Deltamethrin (DeltaGard;* Suspend*) Malathion (Malathion) Acephate (Orthene) Bagworm *Some chemicals are for professional use only or may need to be ordered from a chemical distributor. Mimosa webworm

Photo Credits, Front Panel: Mimosa webworm Mimosa webworm: Joe Boggs, Ohio State University caterpillar Eastern : Cornell University Photo Credits, Middle Panel (from Bugwood.org): Multiple tents: Steven Katovich, USDA Forest Service Common Host Trees Tent with caterpillars: Tim Tigner, Virginia Department of Forestry honeylocust Mature caterpillar: Clemson University, USDA Cooperative Extension Egg mass: Brian Kunkel, University of Delaware

Life cycle Laurie Stepanek and Mark Harrell Mimosa webworm overwinters in cocoons under Nebraska Forest Service bark scales of host trees or in leaf litter. For more information: www.nfs.unl.edu emerge in early summer and lay eggs on leaves. Larvae web together leaflets and feed within the protective shelter. Two generations occur per year. Eastern tent First-generation larvae feed in early to midsummer caterpillar (June-July), and second-generation larvae feed in late summer (August-September). Many caterpillars that feed on trees produce webs, tents or bags, which provide Control the protection from and Damage by mimosa webworm is mostly aesthetic, and poor weather. This publication will discuss trees are generally not heavily infested in consecutive years. Control with insecticides can be difficult the identification and management of these because the larvae are well protected and usually feed common pests. only on the inner surface of the webbed leaflets. If The University of Nebraska-Lincoln does not control is desired, spray foliage in early June and in discriminate based on gender, age, disability, race, August. See back panel of this brochure for a list of color, religion, marital status, veteran's status, FH08-2009 insecticides. national or ethnic origin, or sexual orientation. Bagworm Eastern & Prairie Tent Caterpillars Fall Webworm

Identification Identification Identification • Bags up to 2 inches long hang from twigs. • Silken tent within the fork of major branches. • Silken webs enclose leaves at end of branch. • Bags covered with bits of needles or leaves. • Tents present spring to early summer. • Webs present late summer to fall. • Mature eastern tent caterpillars 2 inches long with • Caterpillars tan, pale yellow, or greenish, and white stripe along back and bluish spots along sides. covered with hairs. • Prairie tent caterpillars are similar with bluish sides.

Tents in branch forks built by

Bagworms on host trees top: juniper left: spruce right: honeylocust Web at end of branch typical of fall webworm Mature eastern Common Host Trees tent caterpillar juniper crabapple Fall webworm redcedar sycamore Common Host Trees caterpillars in web spruce honeylocust cottonwood redbud pine maple crabapple elm arborvitae elm Common Host Trees walnut maple many other trees plum many other broadleaf trees Conifers can be cherry crabapple seriously damaged or many other broadleaf trees Life cycle killed by bagworm Egg mass on cherry twig Fall webworms overwinter in cocoons on the ground Life cycle Life cycle in soil or leaf litter. Adult moths emerge in summer Eggs overwinter in bags and hatch in late May to Eggs overwinter in egg masses attached to twigs. and lay eggs on leaves of host trees. Young June. The tiny bagworms build cone-shaped bags, Eggs hatch in April and the caterpillars construct a caterpillars feed in colonies on leaves enclosed in which are enlarged as the small tent in the fork of branches. The tent serves as webbing. More leaves are enclosed as the caterpillars caterpillars feed and grow. a resting place and provides shelter during wet grow, and webs become more noticeable in late Pupation occurs inside the bag in weather. The caterpillars leave the tent to feed on summer. One generation generally occurs per year. late summer. Adult male moths leaves, and the tent is enlarged as the caterpillars grow. Pupation and adult emergence occurs late June emerge in September and seek out Control females. Mating and egg-laying to July (eastern tent) or August (prairie tent). occurs within the bag. Damage from fall webworm is mostly aesthetic, and Control control may not be necessary. Control Cultural control: Before April, prune and destroy egg Cultural control: Small webs may be pruned out Small trees: Remove and destroy bags before May. masses on twigs. In spring when caterpillars are when they appear, or the webs and caterpillars may Large trees: Thoroughly spray foliage with an present in tents, remove tents with a stick or a gloved be stripped off by hand. insecticide while the larvae are small (mid-June). hand and drop in soapy water. Chemical control: An insecticide can be sprayed Better control may be achieved with a second Chemical control: Thoroughly spray foliage and tents within the webs for best control. The entire crown application in early July. See back panel of this with insecticide when tents appear (April). See back does not need to be sprayed. See back panel of this brochure for a list of insecticides. panel of this brochure for a list of insecticides. brochure for a list of insecticides.