POSTED: May 9, 2007 by bigmama
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Tent caterpillars love most ornamental flowering trees that is one reason I will not plant one. :) I would be tempted to use a pressure washer first.
Destroy the tents, especially when the tents are small, is an effective way of getting rid of the caterpillars. The best time to do this is around dusk or early morning when the larvae are in the tent. Burning the tents should be avoided because the fire and intense heat may damage the tree. On smaller trees, egg masses may be pruned off and destroyed. For larger trees or trees that have several nests, a spray may be needed. Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) and a number of chemical insecticides are effective against these caterpillars. If an insecticide application is made, it should be made when the larvae are small and easiest to control, not when they are full grown and have already done their damage. The insecticide should be applied in the evening or early morning when the insects are in the nest. A high pressure spray may be needed in order to get the insecticide into the tents.
Another solution is: If the infestation is too great, he uses a natural pesticide made from chrysanthemums -- still its a poison.
Info from Canadian Gov't,
[url]http://www.pmra-arla.gc.ca/english/consum/tentcaterpillars-e.html[/url]
GREAT thanks!!! :)
If the webs are toward the outside of the limb they are fall web worms if they are in the crotches of the tree they are tent caterpillers. Either way they will eat leaves as they make bigger webs. They won't outright kill the tree only eat leaves and may eventually weaken the tree. Spraying early is good but it doesn't do much for these. Need to apply sprays as they appear. Can us Bacillus or Sevin and is best if the tents are small and the caterpillers are small for best control. If the webs are on the outer portions of the branch you can physically cut the webs out and destroy them. Cut the webs during the evening hours because the caterpillers go back to the web at night and you will be able to get just about all of them as they are all at home then.