I have worms in my pecan tree and they have built numerous nest, last year they came out of the nest and?

Question

in two days stripped the trees of leaves. Is there any way to get rid of them after they are already up in the trees? They are still in thier wbs, nest or big cacoons.

Answer 1

spray the webs with an oil spray now. This will sufficate the young ones. Keep spraying oil once a month throughout the summer, fall and winter, even into early spring. This will take care of any infestations and hopefully give you some pecans this year, and a bunch next year.

Good luck.. I usually buy an organic oil spray at a local garden shop. It is like $6 a liter and will suffice for a couple of treatments.

Answer 2

You have a tent Caterpillar problem. Yes, they can defoliate a tree within a few days if not stopped. The best thing I have found is a product called "Orthene" made by Ortho. It is a systemic as well as a "contact" insecticide. Being a systemic, it will absorb into the leaf structure and continue to control anything that eats the foliage for up to about 4 weeks. You can purchase this concentrate at any leading garden center such as Walmart, Home Depot, and Lowes. You'll have to read the label on applications for pecan trees however. Usually if it more than 30 days until harvest, it is ok to use this product. Anything less, I would be a little leery of. Another product you can use that's a little more lightweight for the use on edible nut trees, is called "Sevin" (carbaryl).The best time to spray them is early in the morning when the sun is starting to shine on their nest. The caterpillars will be on the outside of the web warming themselves in the sunlight, and they'll be more easily reached. If they aren't on the outside, you can still spray the whole web with either product and they will be dead by the end of the day. Drench it really good, so that the chemical drips through to the inside.. Here is a link with some good info on Orthene and Sevin.. Hope this answers your question..Good luck!
http://www1.epinions.com/content_21544275588
http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/insect/05583.html
http://www.gardentech.com/sevin_fastfacts.asp

PS... Not a good idea to use dormant oils in the heat of summer. Will do more damage than the caterpillars!

...Billy Ray

Answer 3

Here in the Dallas/Ft. Worth metromess pecan webworm can be a major problem. Once the web is built you can either physically remove them or spray with a high pressure sprayer. The use of horticulture oil at a 1% or even 2% solution is not a bad idea as some have stated. Hort oils have really improved in the last 40-50 years. You could even tank mix with a non-systemic insecticide such as Talstar or bt . I would not suggest using Orthene, Disyston, Merit or other systemic insecticide if you plan on eating any pecans. I don't remember the web addresses but UC Davis has very good instructions on using spray oils and Aggie-Horticulture website of Texas A&M has a simple and almost fool-proof pecan treatment schedule.

Good luck

Answer 4

Check with nursery this late in year on oil spray (usually called dormant oil spray for winter use) I use BT worm killer in solution with a bit of detergent to aid soaking into the web.

Answer 5

My dad used to spray his. You have to be careful in doing so. Make sure there is no wind when you spray because you don't want it coming back in your face. You may even choose to wear some kind of protection so you don't inhale the poisonous spray.

Answer 6

You can get a sprayer like used for spraying your yard with, and put a small amount of dish soap in it and then spray the tree.