Bagworms: The Extra Baggage Nobody Needs

Our team spends most of the day outdoors, so we tend to notice pests before they become obvious to homeowners. No, we’re not talking about pests like those annoying kids down the street (don’t worry, we’ve seen them too) – we’re talking about the ones that eat and destroy the plant life around your home. Just recently we’ve spotted a particularly troublesome family of pests in our area: the bagworm.

What’s the big deal?

Bagworms attack and devour trees and shrubs such as evergreen, juniper, arborvitae, rose bushes, elm, maple, oak, etc. The trouble with bagworms is that they move quickly, eating and killing trees and shrubs within a matter of days. Once the worms have eaten one tree, they’ll continue to move from one plant to another.

What to look out for.

Keep your eyes peeled for signs of feeding damage as well as cone shaped bags! The bags are made of partially consumed foliage which allows them to blend in well with their environment. Bag-building starts early in the summer, depending on weather, and can be difficult to spot. As the season continues the bags will become more visible, growing from less than .25” to 1.5”.

Save your trees from bagworms!

There is never just one bagworm, so if you’ve noticed them in or around your yard, you need to take action. If the larvae are actively feeding, then a chemical treatment will take care of the problem. If you wait too long and the insects are pupating inside their bags, it is too late to use pesticides. The only way to get rid of the problem at this point would be to remove the cocoons by hand and destroy them. Fun, right?

Our lawn and landscape maintenance experts are here to help! We will help you scout your property for bagworms, correctly identify any issues, and provide treatment solutions. Don’t wait until it’s too late – contact us today!