Tent caterpillar infestation!

[Carlton]

Just when I thought I had them under control earlier this spring, I noticed that they're back and with a vengence! I've got one of my trees infested and another tree starting to show signs on becoming infested.

Does anyone here know a good way of controlling them? I've read about using a burlap trap but is there a spray or something I can use that is environmentally safe ie. pesticide? Thanks!

[SoNgMaN]

WD-40 and a match?

I saw on the news Mississauga and etobicoke were using a helicopter to spray for them

gypsy moths are the proper name i believe

[ontario]

Gypsy moths and tent caterpillars are different. With gypsy moths, you don't see any nesting tents. Gypsy moths are much more destructive than tent caterpillars. They'll eat your entire tree (the foilage) if not controlled. Tent caterpillars are more of a nuisance than anything and I think they are cyclical.

With tent caterpillars, I just knock the tents to the ground with garden hose and then squish them. With gypsy moths, you have to spray and then "band" your tree. There's an organic spray that the cities use - BTK. Same stuff the cities are using. Not exactly "safe" but it's supposed to be biodegradable. I wouldn't breathe the stuff in. There's lots of info on tree banding on the Web.

If it's gypsy moths you have, do something about it or you will lose your tree.

[Carlton]

Thanks for the info guys. I believe they are tent caterpillars. They look just like this:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8e/Tent_caterpillar_group.jpg/773px-Tent_caterpillar_group.jpg

I read about using a burlap trap. I was cutting the branches off with the nest and fried 'em to a crisp with a propne torch but there are some nests I can't get to. I'll go check out the garden centers for BTK. :D

[Shake99]

What colour are the stripes on the caterpillars? Tent caterpillers are red and Gypsy Moth are Blue.

You can destroy low Gypsy Moth nests etc by spraying with Pinesol solution. The cities etc use BTK but if you really want rid of them use Seven which is what we finally did at the cottage after BTK failed 2 years in a row

For more info check this http://www.gypsy-moth.com/