Trees..... tent caterpillars

July 2006... caterpillars found in trees

last year we had caterpillars in the trees and this year in July I notice we have the same again.

The caterpillars form 'cobwebs' and the eggs are laid inside here. Then they hatch out and the caterpilars feast on the leaves.

Thes caterpillars damage the trees. They eat the leaves, and weaken the trees. And if the tree is too weakened it might not recover the following year. So it is best to treat the tree in some way. I like to do it without the use of chemicals.

Click on image to make it bigger (it will open in a new page)

Here you can see the caterpillar 'cobweb' in the apple tree:

Here it is in the pear tree:

Here it is in the silver birch tree:

Here it is in the plum tree:

Getting rid of the caterpillars

Last year I treated this disease by cutting the branches off and I put the whole branches under water to drown the caterpillars. I did think of burning them all but it was so hot I did not want to have a fire in the fire pit in case I started a fire where a fire shouldnt be! I will do the same again this year.

Drowning the tent caterpillars:

July 23 2006. The tent caterpillars have been cut down from the tree... complete branches in some cases. The 'tents' feel like cotton candy from a fairground .. sticky and clinging. The branches complete with tents and caterpillars have been put in a 'bath' to drown the caterpillars.