Webworm Season Has Kicked Off In Oklahoma
If you looked up into your trees and noticed webs hanging from some branches, you may not be dealing with spiders. Webworms may have infested your trees — and fast action is essential to protect them from devastating defoliation.
What Are Webworms?
Webworms can take on two distinct appearances — they can either be yellow with dark stripes or a dull bluish-black color without any yellow. Their bodies are covered in hair, and their heads can either be red or black. One of their most distinct characteristics is that they'll spin webs in your trees, making them relatively easy to spot.
The Damage Webworms Can Cause
If left unchecked, webworms have the potential to cause devastating damage to your trees. Webworms begin to hatch in late June and are most active from July through September in Oklahoma. During this time, larvae feed on the leaves of trees as they continue to mature. Eventually, they'll pupate and emerge as adults, and then a second generation of webworms will start feeding on your trees in late August and early September. If the infestation gets too large and goes on for too long, webworms have the potential to defoliate entire trees!
Did You Know?
Adult webworm moths are almost pure white, and their presence is a sign that webworms are nearby.
Schedule Professional Treatments As Soon As You Notice Any Webworms
The longer you wait to contact a professional to deal with webworms, the more damage they can cause to your trees. Webworms are much easier to deal with during the early stages of an infestation. If you wait too long before reaching out, there's a chance the infestation will get out of control and they could possibly defoliate your trees!
Professionals will spray your trees with high-pressure sprayers to eliminate any existing webworms. Once the webworms are taken care of, you can focus on restoring your trees to their pristine condition!
How To Identify Webworms
Appearance
Yellow with dark stripes, or dull bluish-black. Bodies covered in hair with red or black heads.
Webs In Trees
They spin distinctive webs in the branches of trees, making infestations relatively easy to spot from the ground.
White Moths Nearby
Adult webworm moths are almost pure white. Spotting them near your trees is a sign that webworms are in the area.
Monitor Your Trees After A Webworm Control Treatment
After your trees are treated for webworms, you don't want to let your guard down just yet. While one treatment is usually enough to deal with most webworm situations, these pests can be hard to eliminate — especially if you're dealing with a large infestation. If you notice any webworms still feeding on your trees after a treatment, you'll need to contact your local pest control company to apply a second curative treatment.
Call Us To Schedule Our Webworm Control Treatment
If you notice webs hanging from the tops of your trees, get in touch with us immediately! At Elite Lawn Care, we'll spray your trees using our high-pressure sprayers to cover the entirety of your affected trees and stop the webworms in their tracks. We service residential properties in Oklahoma City, Edmond, Mustang, and surrounding areas in Oklahoma.
