What’s eating my trees?
You may have noticed droppings on your car or on the sidewalk. You may have thought you heard the sound of rain on a clear day. Both of these things are caused by a caterpillar that is making its way across the state. “When witnessing an infestation, people hear what they describe as caterpillars eating the leaves or what sounds like light rain falling. This sound is in fact, frass, pellet-like caterpillar excrement, dropping onto leaves. The frass should not be allowed to fall on valued items as staining may occur,” — John
Hopkins, associate professor - entomology, University of Arkansas
Cooperative Extension Service.
Tamara Walkingstick, forest resources, University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service, said parts of central Arkansas are experiencing an outbreak of the variable oakleaf caterpillar (Heterocampa manteo). This common insect ranges from eastern Canada to southeastern states like Arkansas and Missouri. Infestations can cover millions of acres. The heaviest damage has been seen in the Mayflower-Conway area and many reports have been received from Garland County.
Larvae feed on the foliage of deciduous trees, including all species of oak. Most damage in central Arkansas seems to be on red oaks. The larval or caterpillar stage produces a 1 1/2-inch long caterpillar with the overall body color varying from green to yellow and red. Two generations of the variable oakleaf caterpillar can occur in Arkansas. The first generation feeds until June or July before pupating in cocoons. Second generation larvae feed in late August and early September. Their feeding cycle should be over now or coming to a close very soon. Leaf litter is the wintertime home to the prepupae cocoon until pupation occurs in spring. These pink to red prepupae are reputed to be an excellent trout bait.
The adult is a gray moth with a wing span no greater than 1 3/4 inches. While their feeding looks quite impressive, there should be no permanent damage from it. The major damage is unsightly defoliation, as the larvae eat the leaves down to the main veins. Feeding caterpillars make a mess on decks, patios and in swimming pools. Infestations normally do not last longer than two years. Normally trees are not killed. However, defoliation adds another stress factor to trees and weakened trees are more susceptible to attack from borers and diseases.
Chemical control is not recommended for most situations. Natural control by parasites and predators may destroy as much as 90 percent of the eggs and larvae. By not using pesticides, these parasites and predators can develop fully and do their jobs of controlling the caterpillars.
For more information, contact Jimmy Driggers at 501-623-6841 or jdriggers@uaex.edu.
4-H
There are 4-H clubs for Garland County youths who are 5 to 19 years old. For information, call Linda Bates at the Extension Office on 623-6841 or email lbates@uaex.edu.
Master Gardener
Master Gardener meetings are held at 1 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month at the Lake Valley Community Church, 910 Shady Grove Road. They’re open to the public. For information, call the Extension Office or email Allen Bates at abates@uaex.edu.
EHC
Interested in joining an existing Extension Homemakers Club? EHC is the largest volunteer organization in the state. For information, call Jessica Vincent on 623-6841 or email jvincent@uaex.edu.