We have some evergreen shrubs, not sure what they are but definitely in the evergreen family. They are short, round shape. Limbs come out and up from base of the plant. They form sort of a basket shape. Anyway, they began turning brown and upon very close inspection we discovered some sort of worm! They are black, very tubular shaped, not very big and they obviously are feeding on the needles of these bushes. Odd thing about them, when there is movement near the bush these "worms" move in unison, in sort of a defensive motion. They move so completely in unison that it actually looks as if the plant is being blown by the wind! But, there is no wind. We have searched all over to find out what these things are and how to get rid of them but to no avail. Haven't even been able to fine a picture of anything even resembling them. Help from anyone would be appreciated before we lose all of our shrubs. These two bushes are the only two of this type and none of the other bushes are affected as of yet.

 

Hi J,

I know what you're talking about. We had them too. Someone may come along that knows what they are, but I would suggest as soon as you can buy a spray that says it's for worms and take care of it now. They have a voracious appetite.

Gami

 

Could these possibly be bag worms? Spray with insecticide.

 

Hi J and Twelvepole,

Sorry I didn't have time to look earlier to see what I used--Orthene (Systemic Insectic Control by Ortho). It kills on contact. I got it at Walmart.

http://www.ortho.com/content/homelaw...stsdisease.cfm

No, they're not bagworms. I've had those too. One day they weren't there, and the next day a pfizter was covered with them. A website with a photo of them -

http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/dp_hfrr/ext...ms/bagworm.htm

I hope someone knows what those black "things" are, but they are easy to get rid of. It's weird how they all "wave" at you at the same time.

Gami

 

Thanks for the info. I will try the Orthene. You know one odd thing, we have had about 3 inches of rain in the past 3 days here and yesterday afternoon, when I check on "my waving friends", they weren't there. Wonder if they have eaten their fill or if the rain drives them away. Will still purchase some Orthene. Still hope somebody can identify these odd "wavers".

 

Hi J,

I've just about exhausted all my good search sites and still haven't found out what they are. Sometimes I stumble across answers, and will post back if I do.

Maybe they turned into pretty butterflies. Wouldn't that be nice???!!!

Gami

 

Go to http://www.uky.edu/Agriculture/Entom...ees/ef440.htm. Let me know if these are the pests.

 

Hi Twlevepole,

Thanks for searching! I don't think they are tho. The description on bagworms from that site is -

"As you monitor trees for bagworm activity, you usually can’t see the newly hatched larvae. They’re only about a millimeter long," he said. "A week after emerging from their old bag, however, they’ll have finished constructing new 3- to 4-millimeter long bags that are brownish."

I had the same worms as J last year. They are black, not furry, about 2" long. If I remember right, they had a white or yellow stripe down the side of their back. I didn't notice them until I walked by the mugo pine, and like J said, they all moved and raised up. You could keep putting your hand over the bush, and they would raise up every time.

I also had bagworms on a pfitzer shrub next to the mugo pine, but not at the same time. They don't emerge from the bag, they drag it with them as they eat and use the needles to make their cone shaped "home". If anybody has them, you need to spray them while the bags are very small, or they close up their nest and the spray can't get to them. They also recommend pulling them off, but they aren't the easiest things to pull off. Spraying is easier, plus I had a ton of them. They also hung from the eaves of the house, rose bushes nearby and other places--they aren't choosy!

I've given up searching and sent an email to our County Agent. I don't usually get an answer back the next day tho, but I will let you know what they say. I'm sure they've had calls on them.

I should add, I think it's the larvae of some kind of moth.

Thanks again,

Gami

[Edited by Gami on 05-20-01 at 05:07]

 

These DEFINITELY ARE NOT bagworms, bagworms are just as they say, in a bag. These guys are out there on their own, in large clusters, waving as you pass by. The description Gami has given is exactly what we have.

 

Hi J,

If I get them this year, I'll be sure and wave back! I don't know about you, but I've never seen anything like them before.

I'm a diehard, and one way or another, I'll find out what they are.

Gami

 

Yes, I will wave back also. I have sent a query to the Purdue University Virtual Plant and Pest Diagnostic Library. Hopefully, maybe they will have an answer. I have never seen anything like these either!

 

Hi J,

Mystery solved. I called a Master Gardener. Our waving buddies are the larvae of the Sawfly. The reason yours "fell off" is because they are now in the pupae stage. He said there is nothing that you can do about them now, but they won't do any further damage and may not appear again for a year or two. They lay their eggs in May. When the worms appear dust them with Sevin.

http://www.msue.msu.edu/msue/imp/mod03/01701221.html
http://www.uky.edu/Agriculture/Entom...rees/ef410.htm

Whew!!! What's next???

Gami

[Edited by Gami on 05-24-01 at 12:01]

 

Thanks! I had also just found the answere on the Purdue University Plant and Pest Diagnostic Laboratory site
http://www.ppdl.purdue.edu/ppdl/
Mystery Solved!

 

J,

Thanks for the site. That's a new one on me!

Obviously things bug you until you find the answer also!

Gami

 

Yes, you are right. Things do "bug" me till I find the answer. Drives my family crazy! But, hey, some one has to do it. They always call me for an answer they can't find because they know I won't stop till I find it.

 

Thanks, Gami, for enlightening us. At DIY we certainly do learn a lot from each other.

 

Hi J and Twelvepole,

Yep, same here. Our familes will survive--somehow!
That's what makes gardening fun--sharing information.

Gami

 

Hi All,

I stumbled across this site and it has a good photo of the sawfly larvae -

http://www.ext.vt.edu/departments/en.../sawflies.html

Gami

 

That's our hungry little "waving" pests!