Have quite a few large arborvitaes here, noticed some dead foliage here recently, then seen the wiggly bags the other day...these bushes are too large and numerous to hand pick all the bags...is it too late? These bushes need trimmed back or removed, but I don't want to lose them all at once! Plus I know these guys will kill other species too...there has to be a way of getting these guys! Thought about torching them, but don't want to damage the bushes too much, and right next to the house too!
Jeez, looks like armor protection. All I can think of is neem oil in a pump sprayer on jet setting and soak the heck out of the pods. Never seen them before. Neem Oil Insecticides | Knockdown Control Sprays
I have read that they prefer evergreens, but will munch on many different trees...I have only ever noticed them on arborvitaes...left alone the bush is a goner. Bagworms: Are They Harmful and How Can I Get Rid of Them? | Davey Blog
what info you have there is what we have done....its a pain in the @$$....but it basically took care of our problem after a year (season).....
You sprayed, or hand picked 'em? I'd need a bucket truck to get to the top of some of them...plus there 15-20 of them. I would spray them but it sounds like its too late since they are in the pods already...unless there are many more that are not yet?
Once they pod up like that, it's almost too late to spray. The ones in the bag aren't doing any more damage...it's the ones outside the bag you have to try to kill. You can spray them with Bt when they are larvae (outside the bag), which they all might already be past that stage. If you have an electric powered pump sprayer with a wand you could probably get to 20'-25' up. I would give them a good spray down next June.
So I sprayed the bushes with Spectracide Triazicide last week...probably too late, a lot of damage done already but I could hear some of these dirty buggers munching away still, so...can't hurt IMO. Anyways, going forward I want to apply something like the BT that was recommended (or some form of "systemic spray") and even though I need to concentrate on making a big plan of attack for next spring, it sounds to me like I could spray one of these systemic sprays now since it gets absorbed into the plant...or will it be "gone" out of the plant by next spring if I do it now? Here is the article I read about this... Systemic Spray "Spray affected plants with a ready-to-use systemic insecticide that contains acephate, imidacloprid or dinotefuran. Systemic formulas do not kill bagworms directly. The active ingredient is absorbed into plant leaves and needles, and then circulated throughout the plant. The insects die when they feed on plant parts and plant sap. These products are particularly effective because they kill caterpillars even when you miss a few affected branches."
The advantage to systemic sprays is the insecticide circulates throughout the whole plant The problem with systemic insecticides is they persist throughout the plant poisoning anything and everything that feeds on every part of the plant from the root tips to the plant top. Including bees that visit flowers. I use a lot of BT. It is still considered safe for bees as far as I've read and yeah, timing is everything. It is most effective when your target caterpillars are still small.
