| | Winter Moths & Cankerworms
What is it and how to detect it.
For several years we have experienced what we thought were
called Cankerworms. They are tiny little green inchworms crawling on
certain plants. In the early spring they hatch and begin crawling
on trees and other plants. These caterpillars chew the leaves of their
favorite plants first. Often they will make a leaf look like Swiss cheese
or chew it almost entirely, just leaving the veins of the leaf. Many of
our customers bring in samples of leaves in plastic baggies and ask us to
identify the problem. Because the caterpillars start off so small and they
are green they tend to blend in with the foliage and are hard to be seen. We
often find a few on each sample when we look at the sample closely.
With the this new caterpillar called Winter Moth, many
homeowners will have even more trouble figuring out the problem. Sometimes
by the time the problem is discovered, it is too late to do anything about it.
Hence this article.
Winter moth, unlike some of the cankerworms we have seen,
start doing the damage before the leaves emerge from the buds of the
plant. They actually crawl inside the buds as they swell (before they
open). So we need
to take action early!
What plants do they attack?
According to a revised Umass Extension Fact Sheet (February 2005), it attacks
many different types of plants. The most common "host" plants
include blueberry and rose bushes, cherry, plum, apple, crabapple, ash, maple
and oak trees. There are other plants that could be eaten by these
caterpillars, especially if they are hungry enough. Many plants are not
affected by these insects, if you are not sure, please ask us at the store.
What can you do?
The most effective way to keep caterpillars in check is to spray (or hire
someone to spray). At Kennedy's we follow guidelines recommended by state
educators and experts. We also prefer to recommend organic products and
other environmentally friendly products. Fortunately, these pests can be
treated with environmentally friendly sprays. Timing is everything with
the Winter moth and Canker worm. It is recommended to spray the plant with
a Horticultural Oil in late March or early April before the buds swell and the
leaves emerge. This helps kill any eggs that may have been laid on the
branches of the plant by moths last fall. Horticultural Oil works on the
eggs because it suffocates them. As the buds begin to swell (you will see
the buds at the ends of most branches and some along the stem), an application
of Spinosad or Bt is recommended. Each is considered environmentally
friendly and is
very effective on caterpillars when they are young and small. Spinosad is
supposedly more effective on the caterpillars when grow larger. Both are natural bacteria that cause
the caterpillar to have a disease and die. Using this type of spray is
different than using a chemical poison. Much safer for you and the
environment. It is recommended to spray two or three times in five to
seven day intervals until all the caterpillars are gone. Re-application is
important after a rain storm. Always read the instructions on the
label. The label information is the law and supercedes anything in
this article. For an up to date status, more personal advice and to find the correct products
please stop in and see us in person. You are welcome
to sample branch from one of your plants.
The article above was written by Chris Kennedy, MCH. The facts were
mostly gathered from the Umass website and from experiences at the garden
center. This information was intended to be helpful and easy to
understand. For the official state information please click on the website
below.
For
further reading and the latest information check out the UMass Extension website. | |
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