What are the Worm Pests in my Evergreen Bush?

Bagworms

• According to the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, bagworms are a serious pest of ornamental evergreens. Infestations of bagworms often go unnoticed until the bush suffers severe damage. Junipers, cedars, pine, spruce and Arizona cypress are especially susceptible to bagworm attack. Bagworms place silky brown bags measuring 1-1/2 to 2 inches on the branches of shrubs and trees. Feeding for approximately six weeks, bagworms stripss evergreens of needles. Severely infested evergreens are often completely defoliated. Repeated heavy bagworm infestations, eventually cause the plant to die. Evergreens with only a few bagworms may not need treatment. Picking the bags and worms from the tree may solve the problem. Heavy infestations often require the use of insecticides for control.

Cutworms

• Cutworms are a common evergreen pest. They are gray or brown and measure approximately 1 to 2 inches in length. Cutworms are nocturnal feeders that often attack the plant's root system, causing the plant to wilt and die. These pests also attack the plant just below the soil level, completely severing the stem. According to the Missouri Botanical Garden, the damage ornamental evergreens sustain from cutworm infestations is irreversible. Preventing cutworm infestation is best accomplished by removing all old plants and weeds each fall and cultivating the soil. Cultivating the soil again in a few weeks exposes the cutworm larvae to animals and birds. Cultivate the soil again approximately two weeks before planting new evergreens.

Caterpillars

• Caterpillars are butterfly and moth larvae. Caterpillars damage plants by feeding on the leaves and stems of evergreens, fruit trees and vegetables. These worms have a huge appetite and can defoliate a tree in a short time. According to the Missouri Botanical Garden, the symptoms associated with caterpillar infestations include rolled leaves, chewed edges of leaves and holes in leaves. Controlling caterpillar infestations is possible by picking the caterpillars from the tree and killing them. Remove all rolled-up for folded leaves. Keeping your yard or garden free from plant debris will reduces the likelihood of future caterpillar infestations.