Notice all those caterpillars around your home the last week or so?
Putnam County UT Extension Agent Wayne Key said it is the season for caterpillars, common defoliators that eat oak tree leaves. Key said caterpillar look to lay larva in the soil during the fall months, as they are cyclical bugs. Key said these caterpillars are often found on Red Oak and Scarlet Oak trees.
“They show up this time of year because, again, they are looking for a place to lay eggs,” Key said. “They lay their eggs, their larva then overwinters in the soil where they then become a moth, then pupae throughout the winter into, through next spring.”
Key said he recommends homeowners manage these caterpillars, as they can hurt vulnerable trees. Key said homeowners can pull large amounts of caterpillars off of smaller trees. Key said larger trees could require systemic insecticides. Key said the insecticides are drawn up by the tree roots, killing them as they feed on the leaves.
“Another thing for folks to do I guess for control that works really well is incorporating a bird feeder,” Key said. “Bird attractants like feeders for example in your backyard. Birds love to feed on these. Robins for example, Cardinals, several of our bird species.”
Key said people can sometimes find them on Pen Oaks and Willow Oaks. Key said they are classified as defoliators, as their eating habits turn tree leaves brown.
“They are veracious eaters, and the tree itself is not necessarily harmed or damaged,” Key said. “Most healthy trees can withstand an attack or an infestation of these.”
Many believe that the types of caterpillars most often seen in the fall can predict the winter weather.