Trees loaded with caterpillars

[BobinCt]

Today was the 12th day since my last spraying of Captan80 and Imidan 70. We did have about 2 inches of rain since my last spraying ( and I been spraying regularly since start of season) and came to the property today and found trees loaded with caterpillars. I know I should spray every 10 days, but got tied up. Should this concern me with all these caterpillars? Should I spray more often now? In prior years, I never had caterpillars like this. Any input would be great.

 

[Ben.MN/WI]

Can you knock down their nests and squish them if spraying them too frequently is a problem? I used that method a couple weeks ago when I found some caterpillar nests on some apple trees. I've had good luck in the past controlling caterpillar outbreaks this way.

 

[Don'tWorryIHuggedItFirst]

You "should" reapply after a rain. I use the same pesticides as you, with a little Rally mixed in a couple times a year. Imidan should kill them. I've also had good luck pulling them and squishing as soon as I start to see them. I'm guessing the rain screwed you. That is a lot of rain when you are talking about fungicide usage.

 

[BobinCt]

Ben- I will look next time I'm there.
Don't - I agree. I was thinking the rain def hurt as far as washing it off the trees.
Thx for replies.

 

[Turkey Creek]

Here is an article I just got today showing the effectiveness of different insecticides after rainfall events. Good information.

http://msue.anr.msu.edu/news/rainfast_characteristics_of_insecticides_on_fruit

 

[Lot2Learn]

I had a terrible time with tent caterpillars a couple of years ago when I had very young fruit trees.

When I posted a picture of the resulting damage, one poster (I wish I could remember his handle...might have been wiscwhip?) suggested shooting the nests in the surrounding forest trees with a 12ga using a full choke. Blasting a hole in the nest kills some of them and allows birds and others to finish the little SOB's off.

My findings:
1. It's fun! Around turkey season, it's a fun way to blow off some steam and shoot, in our case, 100+ rounds.
2. My non-scientific finding: it seems to have worked. This year we couldn't find a single nest to shoot!

Best, Lot2Learn

 

[Maya]

Can you knock down their nests and squish them if spraying them too frequently is a problem? I used that method a couple weeks ago when I found some caterpillar nests on some apple trees. I've had good luck in the past controlling caterpillar outbreaks this way.

Yes, but get them early in the mornings while they are all in the nests.

 

[BobinCt]

The nests will be in surrounding trees close by to the apple trees?

 

[Lot2Learn]

The nests will be in surrounding trees close by to the apple trees?

In my case, yes, they were located 20'+ high in wild cherry trees either at the field edge or as deep as 30' or so into the forest. If you decide to shoot, bring plenty of shells and know whats beyond your line of fire :)

 

[aerospacefarmer]

I think I would give Sevin a try It takes good care of Japanese beetles too.

 

[Natureboy]

Your culprits may be gypsy moth caterpillars, not tent caterpillars. It looks like most of the New England states is having an infestation of Gypsy moth caterpillars this spring. I have found that a strong dose of Sevin worked better than Imidan in the past for me.

 

[BobinCt]

I see Sevin sold at Home Depot. Will that work or is it too weak?

 

[Barndog56]

I had some eastern tent caterpillars on our property line. Just as they were beginning to climb out of the webs I hit them with the foaming wasp and hornet killer. Worked like a charm.

 

[Natureboy]

I see Sevin sold at Home Depot. Will that work or is it too weak?

Check the concentration on the label and use per the instructions listed on the container. I believe the sevin that is sold at stores like Home Depot contains about a 21 percent Carbaryl solution, whereas the 2.5 gallon containers that I buy contain 43 percent Carbaryl. I use 10 to 12 ounces of the 43 percent solution per 25 gallons of water. If you are working with the 21 percent solution you would have to use about double that amount to get the same percentage Carbaryl.

 

[BobinCt]

Nature n Aerospace: used Sevin today... concentrated from Home Depot at 3 ounces per a gallon and within 20 min they were dead. Thx for your help and to everyone else. Now I can relax when I leave for Vegas tomor at least for a week and then right back at these things again. I work too hard on my trees to let these caterpillars beat me. It's bad enough that the deer beat me.

 

[aerospacefarmer]

BobinCt the deer will always beat you but that's why you grow trees lol

 

[BobinCt]

Yes, true. Lol