Fall Cankerworm Sticky Banding

A Community Working Together

Urban Forest Management DivisionDepartment of Public Works and

Environmental ServicesFairfax County, Virginia

Fall 2014

Fall Cankerworm Biology and Life Cycle

Photo credits :JE Dewey (top right); WM Ciesla (top left, bottom & left)(www.bugwood.org)Mary Alice Bassa (right)

Fall Cankerworm Biology and Life Cycle

Adults emerge from pupa stage after the first hard freeze

Cankerworm females climb tree trunks to mate and lay eggs

Caterpillars hatch from eggs in early spring (early April)

Cankerworms eat tree leaves or cause defoliation only during the caterpillar stage

Photo: Mary Alice Bassa

Fall Cankerworm Monitoring

Conducted by Fairfax County Forest Pest Staff in late fall Mechanical glue barrier (Tanglefoot) is applied to paper

bands wrapped around tree trunks Captures wingless females as they crawl up tree trunks If an excessive number of females are caught in a season,

heavy defoliation is likely and treatment is recommended

Photo: S.D. Frank, U of NC

Adult female fall cankerworm caught in a sticky trap

Fall Cankerworm Monitoring Station

Fall Cankerworm Impacts in the Landscape

Repeated, heavy defoliation can cause mortality in stressed trees over time

Dead trees are expensive to remove

Larvae and frass (insect excrement) dropping from trees can be a nuisance

Impacts: Defoliation

Photo: W.M. Ciesla

Fall Cankerworm Sticky Banding Kit

2 cans Tanglefoot aerosol spray glue

Roll of tar paper Disposable gloves Data recording sheet

to return to Fairfax County

(Residents will be responsible for duct tape and

scissors)

Fall Cankerworm Sticky Band Assembly

1. Position a strip of tar paper around a tree trunk so that it is at least 3 feet above the ground and below the lowest limb

2. Measure and cut the paper to the appropriate size so that there is no gap

3. Attach tar paper to the tree using duct tape along the top and bottom edges

4. Put on disposable gloves and spray Tanglefoot aerosol onto the paper band from 3 inches away and cover the tar paper evenly

5. Repeat for each tree to be monitored

Important Notes

Tanglefoot is extremely sticky and difficult to remove from hands or skin

Spray Tanglefoot on the paper only, not directly on the tree

Tanglefoot will stain fabrics permanently

Sticky traps will only provide limited protection from defoliation

For more information call or email the staff of the Urban Forest Management Division, Department of Public Works and Environmental ServicesFairfax County12055 Government Center ParkwayFairfax, VA 22035703-324-5304, TTY 711Email: pestmail@fairfaxcounty.govhttp://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dpwes/environmental/forest_pest.htmA Fairfax County, Virginia publication Fall 2014

Thank you.