How do I get rid of bag worms?
by
Fran2
+3
I have a beautiful pine tree that is getting infested with, what I was told are bag worms. Looks like a cocoon hanging in different areas. Was told they will kill the tree. When we moved in here 30 + years ago there were nice pine type bushes alone the front. One by one they all died. I replaced them and those died. Never planted any others. Didn’t know what killed them but remember seeing those little bags hanging. I thought it was part of the plants. Been told they like fir/pine trees. No one here can tell me how to get rid of them. I need help.
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Hi Fran! We had those this summer and they are not too pretty. We took them down and set fire to them, but here are some other ways:
https://www.wikihow.com/Get-Rid-of-Bagworms
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=how+do+i+get+rid+of+bagworms+in+trees&qpvt=how+do+i+get+rid+of+bagworms+in+trees&FORM=VDRE
Best wishes to you!
Fire
While it sounds barbaric and must be done with great caution, my Dad would knock down the "nest" and set it on fire. He would wait until dusk, the cooler the temp, the better bc they retreat for the night. I remember him spraying the nest with a bug spray, get something long enough to reach the nest to easily knock it down from the limb. The more the nest is kept intact, the more successful the process. He would get the nest to the concrete patio, driveway or use a burn barrel to set the nest aflame. It sounds horrible, but is over in a snap. My father was by no means a harsh man, he wanted to save the pine trees which dotted our one acre yard. The only way to reach the nests at the very top is to call a service to spray. We do that at our current own home. My husband is not interested in stalking the little creatures, etc. Thankfully, we have been successful. Good luck.
My neighbor had a pecan tree, large and overgrown. Bag worms were horrible on that tree, so many! Branches were overhanging onto my property. Bags would break and worms would be crawling on the side of my house, around the windows, door frames of my house. I would have to take a garden hose and wash them off my house. Bag worms can kill a tree and a friendship. Finally, they had a tree service cut down the tree, but only after the bag worms began to invade the exterior of their house too. In my opinion, there is NOTHING good about bag worms in a tree.
Really? No one in your area knows what to do? I find that rather odd.
Here are some remedies to try:
https://m.wikihow.com/Get-Rid-of-Bagworms
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/insects/treatment-bagworms.htm
http://www.livingthecountrylife.com/animals/pest-control/how-kill-bagworms/
https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-get-rid-of-bagworms/
My friends that live in the south have treated the same way as Wxw described. Or call a licensed, professional arborist to treat for you.
Hi Fran 2, They are called Catalpa Worms., a well as Bag Worms .... according to Google, they are not actually worms.. but the larvae stage of the Sphinx moth. From what I read, on google, you'll need professionals to remove the cocoon like nests and cut the limbs that have them, and burn them.