How to Save Your Trees from Winter Moths

The winter moth, also known as Operophtera Brumata, eats young leaves of trees as they emerge from the bud in spring. They’re commonly found on oaks, maples, basswood, white elm, crab apples, apple, blueberry, and cherry trees.

Winter moths are the most dangerous for your trees when they are in the larval or caterpillar stage. You can prevent them in the egg stage and treat them in the caterpillar stage with either sprays or injections. Treating landscape trees is most effective in late April through early May when winter moths are in the early free-feeding larvae stage. 
Here, we give you a low-down on everything you need to know to save your trees from winter moths.

What are winter moths?

​Winter moth larvae (or caterpillars) are also called loopers and inchworms, as they can run from the ends of their body. They are invasive pests that are native to Europe and Western Asia. They were first found in North America in the 1930s. They cause tremendous stress to homeowners and arborists as the larvae strip the leaves of deciduous trees.

​Winter moth treatment

1. Insecticides: Insecticidal treatments can combat invasive pests depending on their current life stage. Homeowners can apply some varieties, but only a licensed pesticide applicator must use others. Treatments with insecticides containing spinosad, imidan, or Sevin® treats newly hatched caterpillars within 24 hours. Applying products containing Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki, a relatively safe bacterium, on the leaves kills the caterpillars during the free-feeding stage. However, these products are most effective when the caterpillars are in the early-life stage. 
2. Physical barriers: Several products like sticky tapes, glues, oils, and grease, act as physical barriers between tree stems and caterpillars. But they are only effective before winter moth egg-laying begins.

Winter moth prevention

When hatching, moths feast on budding leaves, which can be extremely devastating for a tree. Since winter moths continue to feed and grow throughout the year, it’s better to prevent them from hatching early in spring when it is still possible to control them.
You can use horticultural oils; they work by suffocating the moths at the eggs stage. However, since the eggs are hidden within crevices, oil sprays achieve only limited results. You must leave the mixing of oils and chemicals to professional licensed applicators or arborists as wrong compounds can cause serious injury to plants, the environment, and the person using them.

About Seacoast Tree Care

If these treatments aren't successful in removing winter moths from your garden, you must call a professional arborist. A reliable tree care company will inspect your lawn and provide solutions to remove pests and insect infestation. However, you must keep a note of the pests as you encounter them, the treatment you try, and their outcomes, so you remember the solution the next time you face a similar problem.

At Seacoast Tree Care, we offer a complete range of tree removal and tree care services in New Hampshire, Maine, and Massachusetts. We are experts in tree pruning, cabling, fertilizing, preservation, pest control, and root collar excavation. You can trust our university-trained arborists to keep your garden healthy and happy. Call us at 603-431-0101 or 978-225-6644 or email us at info@seacoasttreecare.com to know more.