Bagworm Information from Chris Orser Landscaping, Inc, of Bucks County, PA

This Month's How-To:
Know Your Pests: Bagworms

This is the time of year when Bagworms are beginning to get noticed. They have begun building their bags and are branching out from their tree of birth to new host plants. Be sure to thoroughly inspect your trees throughout this month for signs of bagworm infestation. At this time of year, they look very similar to small upside-down ice cream cones. While they are difficult to get rid of, Bagworms can be defeated. An important part in eliminating any pest is understanding their lifecycle

The Bagworm is truly a fascinating caterpillar. Late in the month of May, the eggs of the Bagworm Moth hatch and depart their mother’s bag in search of food. As they travel, the immature larvae release a sticky silk thread that collects debris. Eventually, this thread is spun into a small bag. As the larva grows larger, it expands its tiny sac house, adorning it with evidence of each plant it has feasted on. In early fall, they permanently affix their bag to tree and enter pupa stage. During this time they undergo metamorphosis and enter their final forms, for males a small black bodied moth with clear wings, and for females, a large white larva. After hatching, male Bagworm Moths take flight and follow the powerful pheromone to the females, still living inside their bags. After breeding, the female Bagworm lays hundreds of eggs and then drops to the ground to die. The eggs then over-winter in the bag only to hatch the following spring.


Installation Our Process Design Imaging Hardscaping Ponds Gardens Maintenance Lawn Service Pruning Fertilizer Leaf Clean Up Snow Removal About Us Newsletters Promotions Landscaping How-To's Contact Us	This Month's How-To: Know Your Pests: Bagworms This is the time of year when Bagworms are beginning to get noticed. They have begun building their bags and are branching out from their tree of birth to new host plants. Be sure to thoroughly inspect your trees throughout this month for signs of bagworm infestation. At this time of year, they look very similar to small upside-down ice cream cones. While they are difficult to get rid of, Bagworms can be defeated. An important part in eliminating any pest is understanding their lifecycle The Bagworm is truly a fascinating caterpillar. Late in the month of May, the eggs of the Bagworm Moth hatch and depart their mother’s bag in search of food. As they travel, the immature larvae release a sticky silk thread that collects debris. Eventually, this thread is spun into a small bag. As the larva grows larger, it expands its tiny sac house, adorning it with evidence of each plant it has feasted on. In early fall, they permanently affix their bag to tree and enter pupa stage. During this time they undergo metamorphosis and enter their final forms, for males a small black bodied moth with clear wings, and for females, a large white larva. After hatching, male Bagworm Moths take flight and follow the powerful pheromone to the females, still living inside their bags. After breeding, the female Bagworm lays hundreds of eggs and then drops to the ground to die. The eggs then over-winter in the bag only to hatch the following spring.	While still in the larval stage, bagworms wreak havoc on evergreen and deciduous trees, especially arborvitaes, junipers, and cedars. When a large number of them descend on a row of trees the results can be devastating. Adult bagworms can strip a six foot arborvitae of its foliage in a matter of weeks. This sort of assault can result in the death of the tree in following seasons. Of additional concern are the tough silk connections that the bagworm makes to attach itself to a tree. These bonds are quite strong and can girdle branches, resulting in dead wood after several years. Unfortunately, it is often the case that once bagworms are spotted, it is too late to stop the current year’s infestation. If caught early, when the larva are still small and have not finished building their bag, they can be killed with a topical treatment. Once these bags are complete, the larva is essentially protected from any application. At that point, existing bags should be removed to prevent any additional eggs from hatching, and the infected area sprayed with an insecticide to kill immature larva. It is suggested that infected areas be pretreated the following spring.