Fall cankerworm in the southeastern U.S.
Webinar Details
When:
Nov 10, 2021 1:00 pm US/Eastern
Length: 01:00 (hh:mm)
Advance Registration NOT required.
View now on-demand.
Presenter(s):
- Lori Chamberlin - Forest Health Manager, VDOF
- Katlin DeWitt - Forest Health Specialist, VDOF
Virtual Event Format:
Group Viewing Available:
Lori Chamberlin and Katlin DeWitt (Virginia Department of Forestry), provide a general overview of identification, impact, and management strategies for fall cankerworm in the southeastern U.S.
Adult female fall cankerworm, William M. Ciesla, Forest Health Management International, Bugwood.org
The fall cankerworm (Alsophila pometaria) is a moth native to North America. This insect gets its name because the adults emerge from pupae in the fall, mate, and lay eggs – the eggs are the overwintering stage. Females are wingless, and males are generally a gray color. Caterpillars are also called “inchworms” because they bring their back legs to the front legs and “inch” along as they move. Young caterpillars “skeletonize” the leaf, but older larvae (which grow to about an inch long) will consume the entire leaf. Oaks seem to be the preferred host plant, but this insect has a wide host range, and feeds on many hardwood species throughout the eastern U.S. The fall cankerworm has one generation per year, and populations can occasionally reach outbreak levels. During outbreaks, entire trees may be stripped of foliage; successive defoliations can weaken trees. Natural enemies (including parasitic wasps and predatory beetles) help keep populations under control. Insecticides are effective control methods, and some physical barriers (e.g. tree banding) are effective on single or high-value trees.
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