Tent caterpillars destroying baptisias

Watch Reply
More
Mark unread Print Skip to new
caitlinsgarden McGregor, IA(Zone 4b) Jul 08, 2012

I have never seen them or anything else devastate these plants like they have this year. They appear to be tent caterpillars, or something similar, and they are eating all the leaves of my choice baptisias. It has been very hot and dry this year. Advice? Will they kill the plants or will the plants recover?

Post #9197955
Quote
AutumnSun Saint Francis, MN Jul 08, 2012

I too have tent worms on my Baptisia. It's my understanding that they eat the foilage only and will not harm the plant. Next year it should look fine.

Post #9198316
Quote
caitlinsgarden McGregor, IA(Zone 4b) Jul 10, 2012

That's reassuring. I was wondering if maybe I should cut off all the foliage and burn it, along with the caterpillars, webs, etc. We had a tree that we had to cut down this year; maybe they visited that tree last year, and had to find a new home this year???

Post #9200352
Quote
trackinsand mid central, FL(Zone 9a) Jul 10, 2012

a picture would be helpful. you may have sawfly larvae or army worms. if you decide it is definitely a caterpillar, you can spray an organic Bt (Thuricide) which they ingest and then die in a day. it is safe and very effective. as soon as they take a bite, they quit eating.

Post #9200801
Quote
JGtheGardener Harrisburg, PA Apr 23, 2015

Check out this guide on natural ways to get rid of tent caterpillars: http://www.saferbrand.com/blog/get-rid-eastern-tent-caterpillars/

Thumbnail by JGtheGardener
Post #10059887
Quote
greenthumb99 Lucketts, VA(Zone 7a) Apr 23, 2015

Are these caterpillars building "tents", or do they look similar to tent caterpillars and are massed in large numbers on the plants?

Post #10059928
Quote
Chillybean (Zone 5a) Apr 23, 2015

greenthumb9,

Did you see the age of this post? I've been caught plenty of times when an old thread has been bumped up. I am not entirely certain, but something seems odd with JG. I looked at the profile and posts after they commented on this old thread.

We had what we think were the fall webworms last year. If we had them IDed correctly, I think they are native, so enjoyed watching them munch on the non-native mulberry tree. We'd check on them every day. Later we had the Orioles eating some of the webworms, so it all worked out. :)

Post #10059938
Quote
trackinsand mid central, FL(Zone 9a) Apr 23, 2015

he's apparently connected to Safer......spammer

Post #10059970
Quote

Post a Reply to this Thread

Please or sign up to post.
Back to Forum Homepage

More Insect and Spider Identification Threads

Go to all Insect and Spider Identification threads
BACK TO TOP