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| | A close-up shot of bagworms. |
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| | Extensive damage done by bagworms to this cedar tree. |
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Bagworms always come in with a bang this time of year and create problems for many homeowners. Timing is critical in controlling bagworms.
While widely recognized as a notable pest of eastern red cedar and junipers, bagworms will attack arborvitae, spruce and pine. An array of broadleaf trees, shrubs and ornamentals serve as hosts to bagworms: willow, maple, oak box elder, sycamore, poplar, locust, rose barberry, pyracantha, clematis, sumac elm, cherry, quince pear, peach and blackberry. In the absence of these hosts, bagworms reportedly feed freely on clover, ragweed, parsley and nightshade.
Though handpicking is effective through much of the year, often it is impractical because of the sheer numbers of bagworms. But if you see only a few, pick them off and destroy them.
New bagworms often hatch and leave the mother's bag in late May. Spraying is not recommended until June 15. Spraying before the middle of June wastes time and money as well as putting an excessive amount of unnecessary chemical into our environment. The bagworms are too well protected inside their mother's bag to achieve any level of control by spraying. Wait until the June 15, and get your spraying done by July 4.
Cygon, Malathion, Javelin, Thuricide, Diazinon, Orthene and Permethrin are among the many pesticides that provide excellent control.
For more information, contact Terry Washington at (318) 767-3968 or e-mail him at twashington@agcenter.lsu.edu .