www.dirtdoctor.com
https://www.dirtdoctor.com/efl/dirtDoctor/

Green Worms falling from Oak Trees
https://www.dirtdoctor.com/efl/dirtDoctor/green-worms-falling-from-oak-trees-t3247.html		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  jcranch [ Thu Apr 08, 2004 10:15 pm ]
Post subject:  Green Worms falling from Oak Trees
We live in central Texas...we are having a problem with green worms all over our oak trees. They are building webs around the trees and everything else around. They hang from the trees and fall on you when you walk outside. They also bite.
Can anyone tell me what these worms are...and how to get rid of them? We have Boer Goats on our property, so whatever we use must be safe for animals.

Thanks,
jcranch
jcranch@haysco.net
Author:  Kathe Kitchens [ Fri Apr 09, 2004 1:42 am ]
Post subject:  worms in trees
I would apply a Bt product. That's Bacillus thuringensis - kurstaki variety. It is sold under many products names...Thuricide from Bonide comes to mind but there are several. Not sure where in San Marcos you can find it but I know the Lowe's in the SA area have it and Austin too.

Be sure you follow the directions and spray in the early evening as the Bt is sensitive to UV rays and will die in full sun. Give it the evening to become available. The worms have to eat it for it to work. You should see results fairly quickly.

If you have this serious an infestation, your trees are in stress. Apply the sick tree treatment or at least put down some cornmeal and molasses to help bring the soil back to health so the trees will be healthier and not so attractive to pests.

I was in San Marcos last year and noticed a lot of webworms. Could it be that the wasp population has been so decimated by pesticides that they are no longer able to keep the population in control? That would be my bet.

Best of luck!

Kathe
Author:  Kathe Kitchens [ Fri Apr 09, 2004 1:44 am ]
Post subject:  worms
Forgot to clarify that no, it won't harm the goats in the least.
Kathe
Author:  jcranch [ Fri Apr 09, 2004 9:31 am ]
Post subject:  Green Worms from Oak Trees
Kathe,

Thank you so much for your reply. We will try the Lowe's here in San Marcos and see if they carry the product.

Again...Thanks a million.

jcranch@haysco.net
Author:  Loop [ Wed Apr 14, 2004 6:25 pm ]
Post subject: 
I live about 20 miles south of Ft. Worth and we are also covered in little green worms dropping from the oak trees by a web. They are also eating my canna's like crazy, leaving worm larvae in webs wrapped in a leaf portion. I go out morning and evening and eliminate as many as I can find on my canna's, which are all covered in holes.
I was just wondering why we are so inundated with these green worms this spring. We have lived here 25 years and never had this before.

I see little black bugs with orange markings with the worms and did not know if they were part of the life cycle or possibly a natural enemy of the worms. Does anyone have any reliable information about this situation?
Author:  Billusa99 [ Fri Apr 16, 2004 8:28 am ]
Post subject: 
The trich. wasps have to go out before the caterpillars/worms show. It's BT when the worms are here.

I put my trichs out in late Feb and do not have much of a problem where I live -- I see just a few.

Paperwasps will eat them now too, as was mentioned.
Author:  Kay Young [ Fri Apr 16, 2004 2:55 pm ]
Post subject:  Tiny Green Worms
A couple of weeks ago I started seeing some tiny green worms on my roses. Then a couple of days after that, I noticed the leaves folded over with gooey stuff inside. I have noticed this on other plants, too. The worst problem seems to be with the roses, though. The buds on my Valentine and Belinda's Dream roses look bad and when the rose opens, it also is damaged. I have recently noticed a tiny (maybe 1/4") fly looking creature right in the tip of rosebuds. I haven't been able to identify it either, so I don't know if it is friend or foe.

I read a stream of comments about this in Garden Web, and some people seemed to think that this is a sawfly problem, and that BT will not do anything to help. I have looked up sawfly and sawfly larvae, and am not sure that is what I have. It sure seems like a lot of people in various areas of the country are seeing these tiny green worms, though.

I hope some of you experienced gardeners out there can clue me in so I will have a fighting chance.

Thx,
K
Author:  AMG [ Fri Apr 16, 2004 10:01 pm ]
Post subject: 
Kay, I have the *same* thing on my roses. The worms I can pick off - its the blasted little bugs I'm not certain of. I thought they were aphids, but now I'm not so sure....

Is your little bug very bright green? I sprayed with garlic/pepper spray and I swear, I thought I could see them laughing at me. And, even though I used the finest spray, it sure seemed like the droplets were too big ....????
I'm not sure if I got the mixture right - it seemed awfully weak to me. I used 1/4C garlic/pepper concentrate, a spoon or so of molasses and a quart of water.
Author:  Tricky Grama [ Sat Apr 17, 2004 7:52 am ]
Post subject:  Worms & wasps
Thanks, Bill, for the clarification. Guess we should have tried the BT 2 wks ago when we saw the worms coming back. We'll also try a modified sick tree treatment, since we can't do the complete thing all through the woods. It will probably be beneficial to spread cornmeal, molasses, etc as much as we are able.
Plano Patty
Author:  sjthornton [ Sat Apr 17, 2004 12:56 pm ]
Post subject:  Hi AMG :D
Your little green bugs sound like aphids to me. Ladybugs are the solution - they love the little suckers (literally). I've bought some at Southland, of course (they should pay me for advertising!), but have also seen them at Calloway's.

SJT
Author:  drchelo [ Sat Apr 17, 2004 5:21 pm ]
Post subject: 
My solution to the dreadful little green caterpillars is poultry. I have managed to keep my chickens a secret from my neighbors..no roosters, just hens. They are also lethal to slugs and just about any other creepy-crawlers. They scare the socks off of my dogs, so they are pretty tough birds. With two fat hens, I have not had to put out any Sluggo and I have had no snail damage..they are pretty fun critters to watch. I like the eggs, too - when I can find them!
Author:  Billusa99 [ Mon Apr 19, 2004 3:07 pm ]
Post subject: 
They definitely are cankerworms if they are greenish and they are folding over the leaves and doing the web-strand thing. Open up a leaf and look. They have legs on the front and back only and walk by arching their back up and down.

Google on cankerworm.

BT works! The edges of my Am. elm still had some and I blasted it yesterday.
Author:  Tricky Grama [ Fri Apr 30, 2004 10:30 am ]
Post subject:  canker worms
Last year our cedar elms were decimated by the worms but leafed back out in about 2 weeks. We released tricho-grammas then, under the assumption they would take care of the problem this year but maybe they weren't hungry-all our cedar elms are still stripped 1 month after the infestation. We are afraid they won't leaf out this year and are dead! :cry: If we are lucky enough to have them survive, I guess the plan should be to have the wasps ready to set out mid Feb, & trumpet sprayer full of BT as soon as leaves come out?
Plano Patty
Author:  khwoz [ Fri Apr 30, 2004 5:52 pm ]
Post subject: 
Put the wasps out before the problem. They attack the eggs of the worms. Do not use BT unless you need to & where you need to. It also kills beneficial worms/caterpillars. Also, make sure you are totally organic. If you spray or use hazardous chemicals, you will negate the positive efforts.
Page 1 of 1 All times are UTC - 6 hours
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group
https://www.phpbb.com/