Author Topic: What about those invading tent catepillars! (Read 707 times)

Chuck White · « **on:** June 07, 2005, 03:53:43 AM »

Is this really doing a bad thing to the woods, or is it actually helping!

MY FEELINGS ARE MIXED:
1. Doing a BAD thing, some of the trees that are being defoliated are going to die!

2. Doing a GOOD thing, with the canopy open, lots more sunlight can reach the floor of the woods and therefore, lots of new growth will flourish this summer!

What do you guys think? GOOD or BAD?

Thrawn · « **Reply #1 on:** June 07, 2005, 03:57:45 AM »

Bad. :cry: seeing those bare trees on the side of hills kills the scenery. :money:

Mikey · « **Reply #2 on:** June 08, 2005, 03:47:17 AM »

I have busted up some of the caterpillar nests, but apparently didn't get all of them as there are a few caterpillars crawling around. However, the Bass in my pond like them a lot, so when I'm out I take a plastic shopping bag with me and collect all the little fuzzy crawlers I can - they can't crawl out of the bag, and then toss them into the pond a couple at a time.

They make the usual 'Oh no Mr. Bill' movements when they hit the water and then the Bass see the movement and wow, those big Bass just hit those things really hard. I may have to try a few on a hook to see how the Bass respond to them... Mikey.

Chuck White · « **Reply #3 on:** June 12, 2005, 05:17:17 AM »

I have noticed that in the past few days, that the catapillars are going into cacoons! At least now the stink and the crawling will stop!

Supposedly when the cacoons hatch out, they'll turn into a small moth!
I personally will destroy any of the cacoons that I can reach!

Lee · « **Reply #4 on:** June 12, 2005, 11:11:12 AM »

I think the caterpillers allways do well in hot dry weather.

Back in 1979 or some year close to that they were out of control for a couple years and stripping whole forests nearly bare when it was hot and dry.
People were running around saying that aerial spraying should be done and dump poisonus chemicals on them. Finally we had a cooler spring and it seemed like they were wiped out.

Mikey · « **Reply #5 on:** June 15, 2005, 03:27:43 AM »

Lee: were those the tent caterpillars or another breed? I remember the damage they were supposed to cause and some areas took it hard. I also rmember all the efforts we went through to keep them from spreading - I think some of it worked as we haven't seen them back for a while. And even if the were Tent Caterpillars, they still make good bait (lol). Mikey.

htrjv · « **Reply #6 on:** June 15, 2005, 01:49:12 PM »

I think you folks are talking about the gypsy moth caterpillars. For several years they were at the height of their cycles. A tree can usually withstand one or two years of their attack, but more than that, the tree will die.
The tent caterpillars will cause the same damage to trees, as they eat the buds that are set for next springs budding. You can help the trees by destroying the caterpillars nest. Joe