White County
 Gardening
Podcast
August 7, 2009
Bagworms
(2:20 minutes)
Audio/Video Script:
Sherri Sanders
County Extension Agent - Agriculture
Hello this is Sherri Sanders, County extension Agent in White county. Our
office is receiving numerous calls about bagworms being seen on trees and shrubs
throughout the county. Hopefully this will answer some of those questions.
The bagworm is native to the United States and is found throughout the state
of Arkansas. Bagworms are easily identified by the spindle-shaped bags of silk,
covered with bits of needles or leaves that they construct around themselves.
The bag gives the caterpillar camouflage and provides protection from birds and
other enemies. The caterpillar is dark brown with a yellow head and
yellowish-black spots on the body.
Bagworms show a preference for evergreen trees and shrubs. Juniper,
arborvitaes, pine and spruce may be killed if bagworms completely defoliate
them. Less severe attacks will retard growth.
The bagworms will feed on shade, orchard, and forest trees of nearly any
kind, as well as many ornamental shrubs and perennial plants. Since deciduous
plants grow new leaves, damage to them is usually not serious.
Damage is caused by the larvae (caterpillars) which are inside the bags. The
larvae eat the needles or leaves, and a heavy infestation can completely strip a
plant of its foliage. Complete defoliation can result in the death of a plant.
A very effective control is picking the bags off the host in the winter or
early spring. Since they contain many eggs, it is quite easy to prevent problems
in the coming year. These bags should be burned to destroy the eggs. Chemical
control (malathion, orthene, permethrin, sevin) is most effective in spring and
early summer before the bagworms become half-grown or larger. Large worms are
very hard to kill.
Thorough coverage of infested plants with insecticide is necessary for
effective control. Try Bayer Advanced Garden Tree and Shrub Insect Control -
this provides 12 months of protection and is a systemic, meaning you mix with
water and pour around root zone and there is no spraying.
For more information, contact the Cooperative Extension Service in your
county. This has been Sherri Sanders in Searcy.
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