Fall web worms (tent caterpillars) appear this time of year but it doesn’t have to be a problem. You don’t need chemical sprays to remove them, just one simple thing – a stick! Use the stick to stab open the caterpillar web to break it open. Give it a twist like you are turning cotton candy at the fair. It’s as simple as that. If you don’t remove them all you have gotten the bulk of the caterpillars and the ones that escape become food for the birds.
The trick with this is making sure you can reach the webworm nests with your pole and this may not be practical for infestations at the tops of tall trees. In most cases the tent caterpillars do not do any significant harm to mature trees. In the fall your trees have absorbed most of the energy they need to make it through the winter and the damage the tent caterpillars cause is merely cosmetic.
Removing tent caterpillars with a stick or a pole is best used on smaller trees that may be more impacted by the insects.
Check out the video to learn how to remove fall web worms without using any chemical pesticides!
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I usually don't bother with the web worms, just leave them alone. But this is such an easy solution. I am going to try it.
It's very easy and normally I don't worry about them either. The damage they do is usually minimal and very recoverable but sometimes they can appear in unsightly places.
You must not get panicked to see the worm casts in your lawn or garden, because it just helps enriching the soil quality, which is a good sign for the growth of desirable plants.