pecan trees- web worms

[bluebayou]

They are apparently not catalpa worms as the sources on the internet say that catalpa worms only grow on catalpa trees.  Okay, whatever kind of web spinning worms that they are, they are all over my pecan trees. 

Kill them?  If so then how without damaging the pecan nuts (just buds right now). 

No one tell me to "man up" like with the skunk please.

I thought about just pruning the branch, but these things are getting bigger by the day, and I think that I have missed my window for just pruning.

These are mature, old growth pecans, by the way.  Not little trees.  One place suggests spraying repellent on the good parts of the tree, easier said than done when the tree is 40' tall.

[bluebayou]

I do have Malathion and Sevin products from other projects.  Never had orchard trees before, want to get a good crop of pecans.

[Tencubed]

Most counties out here in the west have a noxious weed and pest control service.  Also the US Gvt has divisions that will be able to tell you what to do about this.  We don't have any fruit or nut trees so I'm unable to offer any other ideas.

Mike

[victorcharlie]

Any way to take a torch and burn them out?

[beemanbeme]

Depending on how big the trees are, you can get a pole and nail a 1# metal coffee can to the end. nail it on the side of the pole at the top and put the nail thru the coffee can near the top.  You want the can to be able to kinda swivel so it's always upright.  Put a roll of toilet paper in the can and pour as much kerosene in the the can as the paper will absorb. Light it afire and burn the webs. It don't take much to burn the webs and worms. You'll burn a few leaves and twigs but they'll come right back.  You want the can to swivel so's you can stand kinda to one side rather than right under the web when the worms come raining down.  Also, you can reach several webs from one position if you're on a ladder.

[rex6666]

What Beeman said plus go a nursery and see if you can get Z-wasp (abbreviation) these little
wasp (smaller than a knat) will kill the worms, can usually buy them in boxes, they don't harm
anything else. the torch is good and quick, the Z-wasp will clean up the area.



Well how about that country life, is it all you expected, and more

[bluebayou]

Sweet, beemanbee
Going to got some found conduit and will look for a coffee can.....think that there is one in shed.

This thread calls for pictures since fire will be involved.
(Redneck's last words: "here, hold my beer")

rex6666-- Green Acres are the place to be.......really, it is awesome having my own land.  I haven't stopped working since moving in 3 months ago, things to dig, things to build, wiring, plumbing, roof leak, beats TV any day.

I had read about the little wasps.  Out of curiousity, I sat and played with the dog-another benefit of country life, getting yard for a dog- while watching the webs.  The red hornets are trying like the devil to get into the caterpillars with no luck.  I am all girly about hornets, so they don't need a food source.

TM7
We have 8 pecan trees they are 40 feet tall by my estimation.  Going to do the Boy Scout pencil estimation trick tomorrow out of curiousity.  I don't care for pecans personally, but want to try permaculture idea with them so I don't need pests in them. 

[torpedoman]

sounds like gypsy moths

[williamlayton]

Those old web worms won't harm the tree fatally though I agree they look nasty.
Fires will burn them.
Chemicals will kill the worms---break up the web first so the chemical will penetrate.
Actually, and you feed the birds, if you break up the webs, the birds love the worms.
Blessings

[rockbilly]

At one point I in my life we owned a Pecan Orchard, so I am speeking with some knowledge of the problem.  Most of the trees on our place were well over 50 feet high, so it was necessary to spray with a sprayer that worked off a PTO on a tractor which would shoot the spray to the tops of the trees.  A good spraying not only kills the webworms, but will kill other insect that attack the pecans.

Most likely what you have is webworms, they can be treated several ways, but DO NOT ATTEMPT TO BURN THEM OUT, this will cause more damage to the tree and allow for an entry point for bore worms which will kill the tree.  There are several products on the market for controlling the worms,  they can also be eliminated, sometimes, by tearing an opening in the web so wasp and birds can eat the worms, killing them off.  For a large number of trees, the best methos is to spray each spring.  Lawn care services often do this for a small fee, and can spray the entire tree. I wouild contact the County Ag agernt and seek therir advice too.

This will provid some additional information.
   http://bexar-tx.tamu.edu/HomeHort/F1Column/2003Articles/AUG24.htm

[bluebayou]

At one point I in my life we owned a Pecan Orchard, so I am speeking with some knowledge of the problem.  Most of the trees on our place were well over 50 feet high, so it was necessary to spray with a sprayer that worked off a PTO on a tractor which would shoot the spray to the tops of the trees.  A good spraying not only kills the webworms, but will kill other insect that attack the pecans.

Most likely what you have is webworms, they can be treated several ways, but DO NOT ATTEMPT TO BURN THEM OUT, this will cause more damage to the tree and allow for an entry point for bore worms which will kill the tree.  There are several products on the market for controlling the worms,  they can also be eliminated, sometimes, by tearing an opening in the web so wasp and birds can eat the worms, killing them off.  For a large number of trees, the best methos is to spray each spring.  Lawn care services often do this for a small fee, and can spray the entire tree. I wouild contact the County Ag agernt and seek therir advice too.

This will provid some additional information.
   http://bexar-tx.tamu.edu/HomeHort/F1Column/2003Articles/AUG24.htm

that explains what "bt" is.  I wondered when I found a reference to that elsewhere.  So you are against burning them?  I believe that we will spray next year.  Will read up on it between now and then.  I did read elsewhere that controlling the litter on the ground after the nuts fall is a good deterant.  Based on the lack of yard care here I would think that has contributed.  Also, the house was vacant for 2 years so nothing has been done.

Was meaning to go to the Extension office in Linden anyway.  Will talk to them about webworms too.

[beemanbeme]

Crop dusting aircraft == $1500.00
chemicals                         250.00
Legal fees and settlement
with neighbor that broke out
in hives after spraying      2390.00
Legal fees and settlement
with bee keeper from toxic
drift                              9200.00
"donation" to keep ugly
people with plastic sandals
from "Save our Planet"from
picketing                       1500.00

Total                           14840.00

Pole                             Free
1# coffee can               Free
nail and match               N/C
Toilet paper                  $1.00
Kerosene                        2.00

Video of you falling out of
a 40 ft pecan tree with a 15'
flaming torch after finding
the web worms were really
a nest of angry hornets    PRICELESS  

 BTW, welcome to the country.  Have you found your first copperhead yet?  

[rockbilly]

beemanbema.  Not only do we have our fair share of copperheads, we have a bumper crop of rattlesnakes too.  Recently, at a local oil field equipment company they moved a large water tank and found a den under it.  It was reported they killed 67 rattlers, and only got about half of them.  I thin I would be very cautious if I worked there.

[beemanbeme]

Naaaah, just another day in paradise. 

[bluebayou]

Crop dusting aircraft == $1500.00
chemicals                         250.00
Legal fees and settlement
with neighbor that broke out
in hives after spraying      2390.00
Legal fees and settlement
with bee keeper from toxic
drift                              9200.00
"donation" to keep ugly
people with plastic sandals
from "Save our Planet"from
picketing                       1500.00

Total                           14840.00

Pole                             Free
1# coffee can               Free
nail and match               N/C
Toilet paper                  $1.00
Kerosene                        2.00

Video of you falling out of
a 40 ft pecan tree with a 15'
flaming torch after finding
the web worms were really
a nest of angry hornets    PRICELESS  

 BTW, welcome to the country.  Have you found your first copperhead yet?  

LOL

Ah life in these litigious United States.

Coffee can- check
Kerosene- check.....have some left from previous mad-scientist project involving fire ants
toilet paper- check, got a roll from the SHTF stash (no pun intended)
match- hmmmm, don't have any, but have some Bics and Zippos
pole- check

Wife is gone a couple of times this week. 

Sorry, Rockbilly, I've got to do it.  Can't...........resist..........use.........of..........fire.........

No copperheads, but did find garter snake.  Discovered much about my wife's character that day..........

Scene:  Husband and Wife kneeling in grass trying to remove Bleeding Heart, Dicentra spectabilis, from driveway.

Husband:  Hey, a snake.
Wife:  What?
Husband:  Hey, a snake.
Wife:  What?
Husband:  Where wolf?  There wolf.  Snake.  There snake.
Wife:  What?
Husband:  [slowly as to child]  There is a snake by your hand.
Wife:  [jumping up excitedly]  What is wrong with you?  KILL IT!!!

[williamlayton]

Rockbilly
Got an e-mail from a buddy. It had a link too a story very simular too yours.
In the video, they captured 74 Rattlers (I think 74!) from the barn or storage barn of an old oil well place. The rattlers were located in drains, a grated portion of the barn and some utility distribution parts of the barn.
Largest was about 5 feet long.
Blessings   

[rockbilly]

William.  I think I received the same video. If I remember correctly it was a maintenance barn in or near Midland, TX.  I also recently received a video from a friend who is also a rock hound that showed a large number of very large rattlers near a den in New Mexico.  It appeared most of the snakes were in the 5-6 foot range, and about as big around as a man's calf.

Last month the former Mayor, and President of the Sweetwater Rattlesnake Roundup spoke at a dinner I attended, he brought a beautiful Kingsnake with him and had all the ladies handling it after showing it around, (I don't remember the type of Kingsnake, but it was very simular in appearance to a Coral snake.) he also showed a video of a round up he had participated in.  If you ever have the opportunity to hear Tom Wideman speak take advantage of it.