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Gage County
1115 West Scott St.
Beatrice NE 68310
Phone: (402) 223-1384
FAX: (402) 223-1370
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Bagworms
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Does your cedar windbreak seemed thin? Are some of your landscape plants beginning to look sick? Have you noticed bag-like things hanging from the branches?

If so -- you may have an infestation of Bagworms!

In mid to late summer, 2002, a large infestation of this insect was discovered in Southeast Nebraska. The infestation is still a problem. They can destroy cedar windbreaks, landscape trees and low-growing landscape foundation plantings if not controlled.

Bagworm life cycle

  • Late May to mid June - eggs hatch
    • Scouting Tip - If you are not seeing worms on your trees/shrubs, pick some bagworm bags from your plants and place in a plastic ziplock-style bag overnight. Check the next morning --- if you have worms crawling IT IS TIME TO TREAT.
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  • 10 days after hatch (end of May and beginning of June) is best time to spray for control because chemical can come in direct contact with larvae before they begin forming the protective bag. BE SURE to continue checking trees because hatches are often staggered and you may need to spray again.
  • Mid to late August - larva begin to pupate (sprays have little or no effect at this time -- they will not penetrate the bag and larva are not feeding.)
  • In mid to late September - Larva become adult moths. The males fly to the female bags and mating occurs. The female never leaves her bag. She dies and the eggs (300-500) over-winter inside the bag. (sprays will not penetrate the bag).
{short description of image} Watch a video of the Male Bagworm and hear Jim Kalisch, Extension Entomologist talk about their life cycle. Need Real Player to view.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Control

Bagworm infestations on smaller trees and shrubs can be controlled by removing bags before the eggs begin to hatch. Destroy the bags by crushing, immersing in soapy water or burning. If bags containing larvae are simply discarded on the ground, the larvae may return to your tree or any nearby plant

{short description of image}Home Owner Chemical Control

Chemical controls are effective if applied during the early stages of development. For most effective insecticidal control and prevention of damage to trees and shrubs, apply sprays from early to mid-June. Because of the 3 or 4 week hatching period, two spray applications, two weeks apart, may be warranted for maximum control of heavy infestations.

The following insecticides are registered for Home Owner control of bagworms:
BE SURE TO FOLLOW LABEL DIRECTIONS

Insecticide
Bacillus thuringiensis (Dipel 2X)
carbaryl (Sevin 50WP)
BiFenthrin
Malathion (Malathion 57EC) Do not apply to Canaerti juniper Do Not use above 85 degrees
permethrin (Eight 2.5EC)
dimethoate (Cygon 2E)
fluvalinate (Mavrik 2F)
acephate (Orthene 9.4%EC) Do not apply a to elm, crabapple, maple, cottonwood, redbud or weigelia
*** Among the best of the chemical treatments, however, it is very hard to find.

Note 1: Wettable powders are less likely to cause injury to host plants than liquid formulations.

Note 2: Do not use oils or soap products on blue-colored foliage plants (blue spruce, etc) It causes the plant to lose it's blue color. New growth will come back in blue.

Caution: Use all insecticides with caution to avoid injury to bees, animals, or excessive exposure to humans. Always read, understand, and follow label directions. Remember that the label is the law. Use the product according to label directions and dispose of empty containers as directed by the label. Labels change rapidly so re-read with each new purchase.

Commerical Application Products

Restricted Use License Required to use the following products

  • Astro, Decathlon, Ficam, Mavrik, Pounce, Scimitar, Talstar & Tempo

Bagworms & Bagworm Damage

For full-sized pictures please click on the thumbnails.

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Horticulture PageAgriculture page

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to Contact our Staff

Paul C Hay, Extension Educator
Jane Esau,, 4-H Program		 Larry Germer, Extension Educator
General Address: gage-county@unl.edu		 Dianne Swanson,, Extension Educator

Extension is a Division of the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln cooperating with the Counties and the United States Department of Agriculture.
UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA-LINCOLN EXTENSION educational programs abide with the nondiscrimination policies of the University of Nebraska and United States Department of Agriculture. We assure reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act.