You may have noticed these small, strange pine cones on trees or shrubs in the past. These are actually bagworms, a type of insect that feeds on coniferous trees, deciduous trees, and perennial flowers. They’re often found on cedar and juniper trees. What you see hanging from the tree branches is the bagworm’s egg sac: a 1/2 to 2 inch cocoon covered in needlelike structures that make it look like a pine cone.
If you notice one bagworm, there are probably many more nearby. These pests slow the host plant’s growth and can cause them to starve in extreme cases.
There are two ways of dealing with bagworms. You can remove them by hand and then submerge the cocoons in soap and water. After that, you can put them in the trash. You’ll need to keep up with their populations and inspect your plants regularly to make sure they’re gone.
You can also spray them with insecticides in late May, June, or early July while they’re larvae. Some insecticides don’t affect bagworms, so make sure it says it does on the label.
Bagworms are voracious and can hinder your plants and trees growth or even kill them. If you need help controlling pests in your garden or house, we’d be happy to send you a free estimate for treatment.
