How to Deal with Bagworms in Your Lawn
If you have evergreen trees or shrubs in your lawn, you may have encountered a pesky problem: bagworms. These are caterpillars that live inside spindle-shaped bags made of silk and bits of foliage. They feed on the leaves and needles of your plants, causing defoliation and damage. In this blog post, we will explain what bagworms are, how to identify them, and how to get rid of them.
What are Bagworms?
Bagworms are the larvae of a small moth that belongs to the family Psychidae. The female lays her eggs inside the bag she made during her larval stage, and then dies. The bags can reach up to 2.5 inches long and look like cones or cocoons hanging from the branches. The eggs overwinter in the bag until they hatch in late spring or early summer.
The newly hatched caterpillars emerge from the bag and start feeding on the host plant. The caterpillars feed until late summer or early fall, when they pupate inside their bags. The male moths emerge from the bags and fly to mate with the females, who remain inside their bags. The cycle then repeats.
How to Identify Bagworms?
Bagworms can be hard to spot because their bags blend in with the host plant. They are most commonly found on evergreen trees and shrubs, such as juniper, pine, arborvitae, cedar, spruce, and fir. However, they can also attack deciduous plants, such as maple, oak, poplar, willow, and ginkgo.
Some signs of bagworm infestation are:
- Brown or yellow spots on the foliage
- Thinning or bare patches on the branches
- Hanging bags that look like cones or cocoons
- Silk threads connecting the bags to the plant
How to Get Rid of Bagworms?
Bagworms can cause serious damage to your plants if left untreated. They can reduce the aesthetic value of your lawn, weaken the health of your plants, and even kill them if the infestation is severe. Therefore, it is important to take action as soon as you notice them.
There are several methods to control bagworms, depending on the size and number of your plants, the extent of the infestation, and the time of the year. Here are some options:
Handpicking: This is the simplest and most organic way to get rid of bagworms. You just need to pluck the bags from the plants and submerge them in a bucket of soapy water to kill the caterpillars or eggs inside. This method works best if you do it from late fall to early spring, before the eggs hatch.
Biological control: This involves using natural enemies of bagworms to reduce their population. Some birds, such as woodpeckers and sparrows, will feed on bagworms and break their bags. Some insects, such as parasitic wasps and flies, will lay their eggs inside the bags and kill the caterpillars or pupae. You can attract these predators by providing food, water, shelter, and nesting sites in your lawn.
Bacterial spray: This involves using a bacterium called Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) that is harmless to humans and animals but toxic to caterpillars. You can buy Bt products at garden centers or online and apply them with a garden sprayer according to the instructions on the label. This method works best if you do it as soon as the eggs hatch in late spring or early summer, when the caterpillars are small and vulnerable.
Insecticide spray: This involves using a chemical product that kills bagworms on contact or by ingestion. You can choose from various types of insecticides, such as pyrethroids, carbamates, organophosphates, or spinosad. You should read the label carefully and follow the safety precautions before using any insecticide. This method works best if you do it in late summer or early fall, when most of the caterpillars have stopped feeding and are ready to pupate.
Bagworms are a common pest that can damage your evergreen trees and shrubs in your lawn. You should inspect your plants regularly for signs of bagworm infestation and take action as soon as possible. You can use different methods to control bagworms, such as handpicking, biological control, bacterial spray, or insecticide spray. By doing so, you can protect your plants and keep your lawn looking beautiful.
We hope you found this blog post helpful and informative. If you need help with bagworms in your lawn, please feel free to give us a call!
For more information on bagworms and how to get rid of them, you can check out these sources:
- [How to Get Rid of Bagworms - Bob Vila] (https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-get-rid-of-bagworms/)
- [How to Get Rid of Bagworms - The Spruce] (https://www.thespruce.com/bagworms-1402517)
- [Bagworms - Purdue University] (https://extension.entm.purdue.edu/publications/E-27/E-27.html)
- [Bagworms | Home & Garden Information Center] (https://hgic.clemson.edu/bagworms/)
- [Bagworm | Horticulture and Home Pest News] (https://hortnews.extension.iastate.edu/bagworm)
