Subject: Found on Arizona Cypress
Geographic location of the bug: Boca Raton, FL
Date: 10/06/2018
Time: 05:00 PM EDT
Your letter to the bugman: After seeing my Cypress being infected by something – it seemed like it occurred overnight – I checked it carefully and found this pine cone looking creature on my cypress, pulled it off and it MOVED in my hand! When I put it on the ground, a caterpillar-looking creature stuck it’s head out. I actually removed thousands which I think can be called a severe infestation. (Is it a saw fly larvae.)
How can I stop further destruction to my tree? And avoid cross contamination to another cypress nearby.
How you want your letter signed: Carol in Boca
Dear Carol in Boca,
You have Bagworms, the larvae of a moth in the family Psychidae. According to BugGuide: “Larvae (bagworms) construct spindle-shaped bags covered with pieces of twigs, leaves, etc., and remain in them — enlarging the bags as they grow — until they pupate (also in the bag). Adult females remain in the bag, emitting pheromones which attract adult males to mate with them. Eggs are laid inside the bag, and when they hatch the larvae crawl away to begin construction of their own individual cases.” We do not provide extermination advice.