2005 Year in Review

The Fall Webworm is Back

It may seem a little early, but the fall webworm is back. The fall webworm feeds on almost all shade, fruit and ornamental trees except conifers.

"The female probably laid eggs in trees in mid-April. Once the eggs hatch, the larvae can go through as many as 11 stages of development," explains Mark Hoard, University of Illinois Extension pest management educator. "Depending on the climate, there can be from one to four generations per year."

The fall webworm builds its nest at the tip of branches and on small trees.

The insect is detrimental mainly to the beauty of the tree and is more of a nuisance than a threat to the health of the tree. There are more than 50 species of the parasite and 36 species of predators to the fall webworm.

Hoard says that while insecticides can be used to control this insect, in most cases, the best strategy is to prune off the affected branches. The branch with webbing and insects should then be destroyed.

by  Editor, theCity1.com
September 7, 2005