Keep an Eye Out for Bagworms
go.ncsu.edu/readext?933045
en Español / em Português
El inglés es el idioma de control de esta página. En la medida en que haya algún conflicto entre la traducción al inglés y la traducción, el inglés prevalece.
Al hacer clic en el enlace de traducción se activa un servicio de traducción gratuito para convertir la página al español. Al igual que con cualquier traducción por Internet, la conversión no es sensible al contexto y puede que no traduzca el texto en su significado original. NC State Extension no garantiza la exactitud del texto traducido. Por favor, tenga en cuenta que algunas aplicaciones y/o servicios pueden no funcionar como se espera cuando se traducen.
Português
Inglês é o idioma de controle desta página. Na medida que haja algum conflito entre o texto original em Inglês e a tradução, o Inglês prevalece.
Ao clicar no link de tradução, um serviço gratuito de tradução será ativado para converter a página para o Português. Como em qualquer tradução pela internet, a conversão não é sensivel ao contexto e pode não ocorrer a tradução para o significado orginal. O serviço de Extensão da Carolina do Norte (NC State Extension) não garante a exatidão do texto traduzido. Por favor, observe que algumas funções ou serviços podem não funcionar como esperado após a tradução.
English
English is the controlling language of this page. To the extent there is any conflict between the English text and the translation, English controls.
Clicking on the translation link activates a free translation service to convert the page to Spanish. As with any Internet translation, the conversion is not context-sensitive and may not translate the text to its original meaning. NC State Extension does not guarantee the accuracy of the translated text. Please note that some applications and/or services may not function as expected when translated.
Collapse ▲Damage
May thru June is the best time to look for and treat bagworms. Bagworms, Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis, are common landscape insect pests that can feed on many plant species but are most common on conifers such as leyland cypress, arborvitae, cedar, juniper, and pine. They feed on the leaves or needles and large populations can cause severe defoliation. Defoliation for multiple years can reduce tree growth or cause sparse foliage and poor appearance. Large sections of evergreens may be killed. In addition, the brown bags can become very noticeable and unsightly in large numbers.
Identification
They are easily identified by the cone-shaped bag they spin from silk and embed with bits of host plant and other debris. The bags range in size from 1⁄4 inch to over 2 inches to depending on the size of the growing caterpillar inside and the caterpillars are rarely seen outside of bags. Female bagworms lay 500 to 1,000 eggs in their bag before they die in the fall. The eggs then overwinter and hatch in May and June. The newly hatched larvae crawl to foliage to feed or spin down on silken threads that are blown about in the wind. This behavior is called ballooning and helps bagworms get to new plants.
Control
If the bagworms are first noticed in late summer, the only option you have is to physically remove the bags. Insecticides will only work when they are actively feeding in late spring and early summer. It’s recommended to use a very sharp knife or utility razor to cut the silk band that bagworms wrap around the twig along with removing the bag. If left the silk band can sometimes girdle the twig. Bagworms removed from the tree should be kept in an open, dry paper bag to allow parasites to emerge from the removed bags to parasitize other bagworms in neighboring landscapes.
If populations are small, they can be managed by hand removal but if larger populations exist May or early June is a perfect time to spray for bagworms. The caterpillars are tiny and feeding during these months which makes them very susceptible to pesticides. Use a pyrethroid such as permethrin or bifenthrin look for things labeled to treat bagworms. These pesticides are readily available at most garden centers and big box stores. Another option is to plant less susceptible plant species if bagworms are common.
For more information on bagworms check out this link.