Pine webworm damage to loblolly pine.
The adult moth has a wingspread of about one inch. The forewing usually is gray in the middle portion and darker at the base and tip. The hind wings and body are smokey gray. The full-grown larva is a caterpillar approximately ⅘ of an inch long. The head is tan with darker markings and the body light brown with dark longitudinal stripes running down each side.
Eggs are usually laid on seedlings, occasionally on larger trees, between May and September. After eggs hatch, the caterpillars live in silken webs surrounded by masses of frass, and feed on the needles. Generally each web contains one or two larvae but occasionally 25 or more may be found. After feeding is completed, the caterpillars drop to the ground and pupate below the soil surface. In the South, there are usually two generations each year.
In plantations, hand picking is an effective method of control. When high value nursery stock becomes infested, chemical control may become necessary.
BAGWORM, Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis (Haw.)
The bagworm is distributed throughout the eastern half of the United States. It is generally recognized as a defoliator of conifers, particularly juniper, cedars, and arborvitae, but it is also found on many hardwood trees including maple, wild cherry, poplars, oaks, and apple.
Bagworm cases on pine.