Bagworms

[spinbaby]

This morning I noticed that a dwarf spruce at the corner of the house is infested with bagworms—there are hundreds of those little brown pupae constructed of needles from the tree. I looked into treating the infestation, but it’s to late in the season for spraying to be effective and I don’t want to spray anyway because the tree is flanked by echinacea and Russian sage, which attract bees. So I’m going out at dusk, when the bees are hopefully home in bed, and hand picking the pupae off the tree. Wish me luck.

[TygrBright]

1. Good luck, and a suggestion:

After you've picked off all the stuff you can see/reach, get your hose and a "jet" sprayer nozzle, and go over the tree from top to bottom.

helpfully,
Bright

[spinbaby]

2. Good idea

Thank you.

[spinbaby]

3. Mixed results

On the bright side, the bees are indeed inactive at dusk. On the other hand, I spent the better part of an hour picking little brown clumps out of the tree and will have to do it for the next few evenings to get most of them. In late fall when the flowers are cut, I’ll have to rake thoroughly under the tree and, in early spring, all my evergreens will get sprayed.