Bagworms can be quite a nuisance in the garden, especially if they build their webby caterpillars bags on your favorite plants. For the avid gardener, the best insecticide for bagworms is one you can use to get rid of this pesky pest without harming your plants or yourself. Bagworms are a common garden pest that consume the leaves and shoots of plants, sometimes stripping them of vital nutrients. They weave pieces of plants, twigs and even dirt into protective foliage that often ends up as a dome or cluster on tree branches, fences and other plants. These uninviting nests can cause damage to or disfigure even the thickest of tree branches. Contact your local county Extension office for guidance on specific insecticides for bagworms in your area. Once you identify the pests, contact your local extension office for guidance on specific insecticide treatments to use.
Best Insecticide For Bagworms
Introduction
Bagworms are a nasty pest, and they can wreak havoc on your garden. There are a few different insecticides that you can use to get rid of them, but some work better than others. In order to be effective, they need to be used while the worms are still young and before they create their bags.
Insecticidal Soap
Insecticidal soap is a biodegradable insecticide that’s safe to use around pets and children, as well as being nontoxic to humans, birds and bees. It works by penetrating the exoskeleton of pests such as bagworms and dehydrating them. The soap should be applied directly to the bagworm larva with a spray bottle, or you can make a homemade solution using one part insecticidal soap to one pint of water.
Neem Oil
Neem oil is an insecticide that can be used to kill bagworms on trees. It is a contact insecticide, meaning it must come into direct contact with the bagworm for it to work. Neem oil is also a repellent and has fungicidal properties, so as long as you apply it correctly, neem oil may help get rid of some or all of your bagworm infestation.
Neem oil works quickly and effectively against most insects, but there are some exceptions:
- Termites. Termites do not die from the application of neem oil because they eat wood pulp instead of leaves from plants; therefore, termites are not likely to be affected by this treatment method for bagworms (but if you have other types of insects such as ants or roaches in your home – then neem could be useful).
- Moths/butterflies/bees/wasps. These creatures tend not to be bothered by neem at all; however they may avoid areas where they detect its odor so try placing small amounts around doorways or entry points if these pests bother you regularly!
Spinosad
Spinosad is a biological insecticide, derived from a naturally occurring soil bacterium. Spinosad is considered an organic insecticide and can be used in organic gardening.
Spinosad was discovered in 1979 by Dr. John Sankey, who worked for the USDA Agricultural Research Service Center at Fort Detrick (Frederick, Md.) and first registered it with the EPA in 1995 as an approved insecticide for use against certain caterpillars including bagworms. For more information on how it works visit [link].
Bacillus thuringiensis
Bacillus thuringiensis is a bacteria that kills caterpillars. Bacillus thuringiensis is sold in liquid or powder form, and is safe for humans, pets and birds. However, bacillus thuringiensis may not be effective against bagworms if the caterpillar has already formed a cocoon to protect itself from predators (in this case, kill the bagworm eggs with insecticides).
Malathion
Malathion is a synthetic organophosphate insecticide that controls insects on fruits, vegetables, ornamentals, and cotton. It is used as a contact insecticide and works by paralyzing the nervous systems of target pests.
Imidacloprid
Imidacloprid is a systemic insecticide that can be used to control bagworms. It works by stopping the activity of certain neurotransmitters in insects and arachnids, which in turn disrupts their nervous system and causes them to die.
Imidacloprid is a neonicotinoid pesticide, meaning it’s derived from nicotine but modified to have insecticidal properties. The compound is absorbed and distributed throughout the plant as it grows, so you don’t need to worry about missing any eggs or larvae when spraying your plants with imidacloprid insecticide.
Pick an insecticide and get out there to kill those bagworms!
Now that you know what a bagworm is and how to identify it, it’s time to get out there and conquer these pests. There are several insecticides that can be used to kill these little guys, but not all of them will work for every situation. You can use the following method if you have only one or two bagworms:
- Apply an insecticide directly on the larvae with a sprayer or brush applicator
If this method doesn’t work (or if your tree has more than three infestation sites), then it’s time to try something else! For larger infestations, apply an insecticide directly on all members of the colony, which includes both eggs and larvae. The easiest way to do this is by drilling holes in a layer of cardboard below where you want your product sprayed (soil). Then add water until it runs out of those holes; this should be enough liquid for your sprayer bottle (if not—add more!). Now just pour some chemical into each hole until they’re full; leave them alone for about six hours before removing them from underneath your tree’s leaves
Conclusion
We’ve covered the best insecticides for bagworms, and we hope our recommendations help you make an informed decision when it comes to tackling your bagworm problem. As always, remember that safety should be a top priority: make sure to follow the directions on any product you end up using and store it properly when not in use. If this is your first time applying an insecticide to deal with a pest problem, consider opting for one of the lower-toxicity products here (such as neem oil or spinosad) before moving onto more toxic options like malathion or imidacloprid. We also suggest that you research which types of bagworms are most common in your area; if they’re less likely to cause damage than other species, you might want to think twice about using an insecticide since there are more eco-friendly ways to get rid of them.
- Use on citrus, fruits, vegetables and lawns, ornamental trees, shrubs and flowers
- Kills armyworms, sod webworms, cat flies, loopers, bagworms, tent caterpillars and other listed insects on lawns, ornamental trees, shrubs, and flowers
- User friendly
- No guesswork
Additional Info :
Item Dimensions | |
Height | 8.5 Inches |
Width | 4.5 Inches |
Length | 2.5 Inches |
Weight | 2.3 Pounds |
Additional Info :
Color | 4-pack Ultrasonic Pest Repeller – Model Pr229 |
- Insect Killer – this pest control is designed for use on caterpillars and worm type insects, such as cabbage looper, bagworm, gypsy moth, fall cankerworm, elm spanworm and many more.
- Foliage protector – this insecticide is designed for use on a variety of plants including broccoli, Celery, cabbage, Turnip greens, mustard greens, Cauliflower, melons, lettuce, tomatoes, shade trees, ornamentals and many more.
- Safe for earthworms & bees – when used as directed, Monterey b.T. Has no effect on birds, earthworms, or beneficial insects such as honeybees or Ladybugs.
- Organic gardening – our insecticide is OMRI listed and approved for organic gardening. OMRI, the organic materials Review Institute, determines whether or not a product Qualifies as organic under the USDA’s national organic program.
- Easy to apply – product instantly mixes with water and should be applied using either a trigger spray bottle or pressure tank sprayer. Carefully read and use according to label directions.
- Power Source Type: Air Powered
Additional Info :
Color | 16 Oz. |
Item Dimensions | |
Height | 7 Inches |
Width | 4 Inches |
Length | 2 Inches |
Weight | 1.2000003429148 Pounds |
- INSECT KILLER – This pest control is great for use on cabbage looper, hornworms, tent caterpillar, gypsy moth, bagworm and many more.
- PROTECTS FRUITS, VEGETABLES, SHADE TREES & ORNAMENTALS – Designed for use on broccoli, cauliflower, kale, mustard greens, eggplant, pepper, melons, tomatoes, cabbage, shade trees and ornamentals.
- DOESN’T HARM BENEFICIAL INSECTS – Kills worms and caterpillar stage insects while causing no harm to birds, earthworms, or beneficial insects, such as honeybees and ladybugs.
- FAST ACTING FORMULA – Must be eaten by worms or caterpillars to be effective. After ingesting, bugs immediately stop feeding and will die within 2-3 days.
- ORGANIC GARDENING – The active ingredient of the product is a natural strain of the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis, which is a leading insecticide used worldwide. Approved for organic gardening, our product is safe for use around people and pets.
Additional Info :
Item Dimensions | |
Height | 12 Inches |
Width | 3 Inches |
Length | 6 Inches |
Weight | 2.33 Pounds |
Release Date | 2021-11-10T00:00:01Z |
- Product used as a sprayable or drench application on ornamentals in nursery, greenhouse and landscapes
- Best in class for control of scales
- Excellent for Woolly Adelgids on Eastern Hemlocks
- Excellent on Saga Palm Scales
- NOT FOR SALE OR USE IN STATE OF NEW YORK
Additional Info :
Item Dimensions | |
Height | 9.22 Inches |
Width | 4.73 Inches |
Length | 7.03 Inches |
Weight | 3.36 Pounds |