Controlling the Fall Cankerworm
Defoliating outbreaks of the fall cankerworm have been noticed in North America since the mid-seventeenth century. In most cases, the outbreaks of the cankerworm have subsided within two to three years due to natural controls. Charlotte’s fall cankerworm problem is an unusual one, however, with high populations of the pest lasting more than a decade.
The North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service and the City of Charlotte recommend that individual homeowners and neighborhood associations in infested areas work together to have as many trees banded as possible to control the cankerworm’s population. Bands work by trapping the adult female moths in a sticky glue as they climb the trees in the fall, thus preventing them from reaching the tops of the trees to lay their eggs. Bands should be applied in the fall, and removed the following spring.
Most areas of Charlotte and neighboring cities are now adversely affected by the fall cankerworms. This contrasts with a decade ago when areas of heavy infestation were found in a broad semi-circular band around center of the city bordered by South Tryon Street, Woodlawn Road, Wendover Road, Eastway Drive, and Sugar Creek Road. Currently, the infestations extend across Mecklenburg, Cabarrus, Gaston, York, Lincoln, and Union counties.
The North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service and the City of Charlotte recommend that individual homeowners and neighborhood associations in infested areas work together to have as many trees banded as possible to control the cankerworm’s population. Bands work by trapping the adult female moths in a sticky glue as they climb the trees in the fall, thus preventing them from reaching the tops of the trees to lay their eggs. Bands should be applied in the fall, and removed the following spring.
Most areas of Charlotte and neighboring cities are now adversely affected by the fall cankerworms. This contrasts with a decade ago when areas of heavy infestation were found in a broad semi-circular band around center of the city bordered by South Tryon Street, Woodlawn Road, Wendover Road, Eastway Drive, and Sugar Creek Road. Currently, the infestations extend across Mecklenburg, Cabarrus, Gaston, York, Lincoln, and Union counties.
Email: treebandingservices@gmail.com
Phone (Call or Text): (704) 765-BAND (2263)
Like us on Facebook: @StikNStop
Phone (Call or Text): (704) 765-BAND (2263)
Like us on Facebook: @StikNStop
