What are bagworms?
Bagworms are an insect that usually hatches in Ohio in late May into mid June, a little earlier in southern Ohio and a little later in northern. This caterpillar has the peculiar habit of living inside a “bag” constructed of bits of plant material it is feeding on, and dragging it around as it feeds. When disturbed, the bagworm pulls itself back into the bag. This is a pest you want to control early in its life cycle. Bagworms can build up heavy local populations on preferred hosts, especially arborvitae, cedar and juniper. If crowded, they may eat buds on these plants, causing branch dieback, and open, dead areas. If defoliation is excessive, plants may die the following season. Bagworms also attack deciduous plants, including honeylocust, maple, sycamore, apple, oak and others. Control infestations on small trees and shrubs by removing bags during the winter and early spring before the eggs begin hatching in late May. If bags containing larvae are discarded on the ground, the larvae
