Can someone tell me what this caterpillar is?

[japody]

You can treat tent caterpillars by spraying the tree with BT. It's a bacillus agent that invades the caterpillars intestines and they starve. It is environmentally safe. It's available at most garden supply stores and not very expensive. Make sure you follow the directions.

Bacillus thuringiensis

 

[PRF]

Did you see any tents in nearby trees? They eventually abandon the tents.

The tents begin smaller at first with a bunch of little black specks inside. As the caterpillars grow the tents enlarge and you can see the caterpillars inside squirming around.

I'm going to look tomorrow Dave, armed with a torch! :fiery:

You can treat tent caterpillars by spraying the tree with BT. It's a bacillicus agent that invades the caterpillars intestines and they starve. It is environmentally safe. It's available at most garden supply stores and not very expensive. Make sure you follow the directions.

Bacillus thuringiensis

Thanks, I'm going to give that a try, much appreciated..

 

[AchingBack]

I rip the tents apart with my pole saw, causing the caterpillars to fall to the ground where all of the self-respecting birds in the area immediately show up for a quick bite or two.

 

[txdon]

I found one tent loaded in my plum trees, broke off the small limb it was on, threw it in the pond and have seen no more.

 

[RalphVa]

I burn them out. The old organic solution for caterpillars is BT. A newer one that also works against some beetles as well, like potato and mexican bean beetle, is spinosad, sold as Colorado Potato Beetle Killer by Southern States. Works, too. Both BT and spinosad are organic. Another organic is Neem oil. You have to be more careful in using it though. Follow the label.

Ralph