New York State Insider: New York State Assemblyman Tom Abinanti 92nd District: It's In The Bag.

 

Assemblymember Tom Abinanti recently found a bagworm infestation on a tree outside of his home. To remove bagworms successfully, you need a bucket of soapy water and gloves. Just pluck the entire casing off of the tree and place it in the water. The soak takes care of the rest.

Bagworm caterpillars make distinctive 1.5 to 2 inch long spindle-shaped bags that can be seen hanging from twigs of a variety of trees and shrubs. Sometimes the bags are mistaken for pine cones or other plant structures.  Bagworms prefer juniper, arborvitae, spruce, pine, and cedar but also attack deciduous trees. Female moths cannot fly but the larvae can disperse. Very small caterpillars can spin strands of silk and be carried by wind, an activity called “ballooning”. Larger larvae may crawl to adjacent plants. https://mortonarb.org/plant-and-protect/tree-plant-care/plant-care-resources/bagworms/