Pullled this from Louisiana Radio Networks article...
Highlights - according to Aaron Ashbrook, LSU urban entomologist
They do not bite humans
Could do damage to your trees and bushes
Use pesticides that don’t harm other, beneficial insects by using BT (bacillus thuringiensis)
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Louisiana sees uptick in fall webworm population for this time of year
Baton Rouge / louisianaradionetwork.com
Sean Richardson
Jun 26, 2024 | 12:40 PM
Louisiana is seeing an increase this year in a fuzzy blondish caterpillar called fall webworms. LSU AgCenter urban entomologist Aaron Ashbrook says they do not bite humans, but they could do a number on trees and bushes in your yard.
“What is interesting about this pest insect is they can feed upon over 400 different species of trees and they are quite extensive defoliators.”
While in heavily wooded areas the damage caused by the caterpillars mainly goes unnoticed…
“However, in backyards in the city where we are relying on trees to provide shade that damage can become much more noticeable as it increases heat in those environments.”
Ashbrook recommends using pesticides that don’t harm other, beneficial insects by using BT (bacillus thuringiensis). There are a few possibilities for the boom in population this year.
“Of course we had the drought last summer and some of the populations could be recovering from that extreme conditions or their natural enemies such as birds and insects could be feeding on them less.”
Eventually, the fall webwork will head from the trees to the grass. Spin their cocoons and emerge as a small white moth. Ashbrook says not to worry the trees are not on the menu for moths.
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