Bagworms: A Threat to Alabama's Trees and Shrubs
Bagworms are a common pest in Alabama, including Birmingham and Huntsville, causing unsightly damage to trees and shrubs, especially:
- juniper
- arborvitae
- spruce
- pine
- cedar
Ace Tree Services is your go-to expert in identifying, managing, and eradicating bagworm infestations, ensuring the health and beauty of your landscape.
Why Bagworms Are a Problem
Bagworms feed on leaves or needles, and large populations can cause severe defoliation, leading to reduced tree growth, sparse foliage, and poor appearance. The brown bags that bagworms create can also be very noticeable and unsightly when they are present in large numbers.
Understanding Bagworms
These common landscape pests feed on a variety of ornamental plant species and can be identified by the cone-shaped bags they spin from silk, incorporating bits of host plant and other debris. The bags range in size from 1⁄4 inch to over 2 inches, accommodating the growing caterpillar inside. Often, these bags are mistaken for pine cones or other plant structures.
Effective Bagworm Control Strategies by Ace Tree Services
Ace Tree Services offers comprehensive solutions to control bagworm populations and protect your landscape in Birmingham and Huntsville, Alabama. The decision of when and how to control bagworms depends on factors such as population size, plant location, value, and purpose.
Cultural controls: Opt for less susceptible plant species when planting in areas where bagworms are common. Remove bags manually by pruning infested branches or handpicking bags. Each bag could contain up to 1,000 eggs, so removing them in the fall and winter can make a significant difference in spring.
Biological controls: Bagworms are parasitized by several types of parasitic wasps, which can help keep populations below noticeable damage levels. Biological controls that specifically target feeding bagworms are ideal, as they are less likely to harm beneficial insects.
Chemical controls: These should be considered as a last resort for bagworm control since bagworms live inside water-proof bags that can resist chemical treatments. If bagworms are first noticed in late summer, it may be too late for chemical control, and the best approach is to physically remove the bags.
Ace Tree Services is dedicated to managing and eradicating bagworm infestations in the Birmingham and Huntsville regions of Alabama, ensuring the health and aesthetic appeal of your trees and shrubs. Trust our expertise to protect your landscape from these destructive pests. Call an ISA certified arborist from Ace Tree Service at (205) 332-7757!
