How to Get Rid of Bagworms
Begin looking for bagworms during the winter or early spring., Sweep and rake under trees regularly to get rid of fallen egg sacks., Notice areas of dead pine needles or branches., Observe new places the bagworms may live., Fill a plastic bucket...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Begin looking for bagworms during the winter or early spring.
Bagworm egg sacks are brown and one and a half to two inches (3.8 to 5 cm) long.
They are covered with dead needles, so they appear more noticeable in contrast to the green deciduous needles at this time.
Bagworm sacks can be very hard to find because they look like pine cones.
Look through your pinecones to find variations that may be bagworms. -
Step 2: Sweep and rake under trees regularly to get rid of fallen egg sacks.
Don’t put the debris in the compost, where the larvae can live.
Place them in sealed plastic bags in your trashcan. , If your tree has begun to turn brown, the bagworms might have killed it already.
You will want to try a last effort to rid your entire garden of the worms, so that they don’t spread to other trees. , Their silks are transported by the wind.
Anywhere the wind blows in your yard is a potential new spot for the moths and a great place to look. , Mix it well. , Clippers will remove all traces of the bagworm threads, so that it’s harder for new bagworms to find their way into the tree., Make sure they are submerged fully. ,, You will reduce the amount of pesticide you need to use if you do a thorough job of handpicking the egg sacks. , This is when they hatch and are at their most vulnerable.
In some areas they hatch in early June., However, they often get spooked back into their sack if they are startled. , They contain bacillus thuringiensis, a bacteria that is deadly to young bagworms.
If you have many trees affected by bagworms, it can be expensive to thoroughly kill the bagworms with insecticide.Orthene, Talstar and Tempo are other insecticides that have been effective in killing newly-hatched bagworms., Thoroughly wet the leaves and needles of the trees that can be affected.
Beware when spraying insecticide around pets and small children.
Consider cordoning off the area just after you spray. , This is when it can kill young larvae.
Stop by late July and August when the bagworms are resilient and the insecticide no longer works.
Once September and early October begin, the adult bagworms begin fertilizing their eggs.
You should begin the process of handpicking the egg sacks at this time.
Adult male bagworms are moths with black wings and brown spots.
They die after fertilization.
Female bagworms remain inside the sack in their larval state. -
Step 3: Notice areas of dead pine needles or branches.
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Step 4: Observe new places the bagworms may live.
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Step 5: Fill a plastic bucket with a mixture of warm water and dish soap.
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Step 6: Put on garden gloves and bring a small pair of clippers to aid you in removing the bagworms entirely.
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Step 7: Lift branches
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Step 8: clip off bagworm egg sacks and drop them into the bucket of soapy water.
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Step 9: Dump the soaked bagworms into a sealed plastic sack and throw them in your dumpster.
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Step 10: Repeat this procedure every fall
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Step 11: winter and early spring to reduce bagworm populations before the eggs hatch.
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Step 12: Plan to treat bagworms with insecticide in May.
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Step 13: Look for a small
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Step 14: worm-like head poking out of the top of the sack.
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Step 15: Purchase an insecticide such as Dipel or Thuricide.
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Step 16: Put the insecticide in a sprayer.
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Step 17: Spray insecticide in late May
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Step 18: June and early July.
Detailed Guide
Bagworm egg sacks are brown and one and a half to two inches (3.8 to 5 cm) long.
They are covered with dead needles, so they appear more noticeable in contrast to the green deciduous needles at this time.
Bagworm sacks can be very hard to find because they look like pine cones.
Look through your pinecones to find variations that may be bagworms.
Don’t put the debris in the compost, where the larvae can live.
Place them in sealed plastic bags in your trashcan. , If your tree has begun to turn brown, the bagworms might have killed it already.
You will want to try a last effort to rid your entire garden of the worms, so that they don’t spread to other trees. , Their silks are transported by the wind.
Anywhere the wind blows in your yard is a potential new spot for the moths and a great place to look. , Mix it well. , Clippers will remove all traces of the bagworm threads, so that it’s harder for new bagworms to find their way into the tree., Make sure they are submerged fully. ,, You will reduce the amount of pesticide you need to use if you do a thorough job of handpicking the egg sacks. , This is when they hatch and are at their most vulnerable.
In some areas they hatch in early June., However, they often get spooked back into their sack if they are startled. , They contain bacillus thuringiensis, a bacteria that is deadly to young bagworms.
If you have many trees affected by bagworms, it can be expensive to thoroughly kill the bagworms with insecticide.Orthene, Talstar and Tempo are other insecticides that have been effective in killing newly-hatched bagworms., Thoroughly wet the leaves and needles of the trees that can be affected.
Beware when spraying insecticide around pets and small children.
Consider cordoning off the area just after you spray. , This is when it can kill young larvae.
Stop by late July and August when the bagworms are resilient and the insecticide no longer works.
Once September and early October begin, the adult bagworms begin fertilizing their eggs.
You should begin the process of handpicking the egg sacks at this time.
Adult male bagworms are moths with black wings and brown spots.
They die after fertilization.
Female bagworms remain inside the sack in their larval state.
About the Author
Paul Harvey
Professional writer focused on creating easy-to-follow hobbies tutorials.
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