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Health & Fitness

Green Caterpillar Alert: Winter Moth

The Winter Moth caterpillar, an inchworm with a white "racing stripe" down the side, are popping up everywhere and are extremely damaging to your precious plants.

If you are wondering what’s eating your plants, look for an inchworm with a white “racing stripe” down the side. These are the dreaded winter moth caterpillars. They are popping up everywhere and are extremely damaging to your precious plants. While typically found on maple, oak, apples, cherry, linden and ash trees, the caterpillars can swing from the trees on silky strands spreading to neighboring trees and other plants.

To our surprise we are hearing reports that these insects are latching onto unforeseen hosts such as ferns, mandevilla, hibiscus, citrus, vegetables and other patio plants.

Fortunately, there is an effective and environmentally-friendly remedy, and the sooner you apply it the better. Technically it is a foliar insecticide containing spinosad. The product name is Captain Jack’s Deadbug Brew by Bonide. Captain Jack’s is a natural bacterium that targets caterpillars and similar insects. Once ingested, the caterpillars will stop feeding immediately and die within two-to-three days. If not treated promptly, leaves could be riddled with holes, and complete defoliation may ultimately kill the tree in as little as four-years. In fruit trees, such as apple or blueberry, this may lead to a loss of fruiting. Many outbreaks popped-up last spring, and they appear to be spreading. Captain Jack’s Deadbug Brew is available at all Mahoney’s.

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Important note about Captain Jack's and bees

 It is important to know that Spinosad (the active ingredient in Capt Jack's) is lethal if bees come in direct contact. Therefore we recommend people NOT SPRAY plants and vegetable when bees are visiting them (when plants are in flower). It is also important to spray when bees are least active – very late in the afternoon or early evening. The more time the spray has to dry before bees are active the better. Do not apply on windy days when the spray can migrate to other areas.

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Why are bees so important? 

It has been said that bees are responsible for one out of every three bites of food we eat. Most crops grown for their fruits (including vegetables such as squash, cucumber, tomato and eggplant), nuts, seeds, fiber (such as cotton), and hay (alfalfa grown to feed livestock), require pollination by insects. The main insect pollinators are bees. Bees also play a critical role in maintaining natural plant communities and ensuring production of seeds in most flowering plants.

How you can help:

Bee populations have seen a devastating decline in the past few years. Research suggests that overuse of pesticides, pollution, and loss of environment may all be contributing factors. One sure way to protect and promote bee health is to improve their habitat. Adding flowering plants of all kinds is the easiest way to attract and protect honey and bumble bees, and other beneficial insects to the garden. Providing flowering plants in your landscape with overlapping bloom periods will help bees survive and prosper throughout the season. Bees also need moisture; so providing a birdbath or other water feature can be very helpful during hot summer months.

 

Most homeowners can handle spraying their smaller trees. As always read and follow label instructions. Additionally, when spraying fruit trees, take care to protect foraging bees by spraying early in the morning or late in the afternoon when the bees are less active. Larger trees require commercial spraying equipment. Mahoney’s SafeLawns and Landscapes offer spraying services capable of reaching the tops of large trees, as well as smaller. We can also protect against another destructive invasive insect, the Hemlock Wooly Adelgid. For more information or to schedule an appointment call (781) 305-5555.


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