“Fighting web moths” is harmlessly worded. It should be called the web moth plague, because when this pest attacks a tree, it does so en masse. Its caterpillars spin webs around the shoots and eat them bare. Action often comes too late - which is rarely a bad thing.
How do I fight web moths?
You only have to fight web moths if a fruit tree is heavily infested. Collect caterpillars or spray them from the tree with water. Cut and dispose of affected branches early. As a preventive measure, introduce predators and scrape off egg clutches in winter.
How do I recognize a spider moth infestation?
In the beginning, the infestation is hardly noticeable. The white-gray butterflies, about one centimeter in size, lay their eggs in midsummer. The larvae pupate and initially overwinter unnoticed before they become visible in spring:
- whole shoots are wrapped in awhite-silvery web
- it consists of a lot of thin threads
- is extremely tear-resistant, difficult to remove completely
- there are a lot of larvae living in the webmany larvae
- they are cream-colored to greenish, slightly translucent in the light
- There is a black dot on each of the ten segments
- move in a snaking manner when touched
- often abseiling from the tree
How can I fight web moths?
Web moths usually don't need to be fought because they don't cause much damage. The loss of leaves is already made up for with the second shoot in June. However, if the infestation is severe, the apple tree moth can lead to significant crop losses and should be controlled.
- firstcut off affected shoots
- take it to the waste yard immediately
- Collect caterpillars
- or spray from the tree with a hard jet of water
- Glue ring around tree trunk prevents larvae from crawling back
How can I prevent another web moth infestation?
Check your trees regularly to detect an infestation early. Pheromone traps (€12.00 on Amazon) set up in summer capture butterflies and thus prevent them from laying eggs. Egg clutches that have already been laid can be scraped from the tree in winter. In spring you should remove mined leaves. Encourage predators such as predatory bugs and parasitic wasps, but also insect-eating birds. This works best if you design your garden close to nature.
Can I fight web moths with a chemical agent?
Chemical agents are not recommended in the home gardenas they cause more harm than good. If the webs have not yet been woven, the affected tree can be sprayed with a product based on Bacillus thuringiensis. It is compatible with bees.
Tip
The poisonous oak processionary moth avoids fruit trees
When there are many caterpillars on apple tree shoots, the oak processionary moth, which is poisonous to humans, is sometimes feared. But don't worry, he avoids fruit trees. The web moth itself is not dangerous to humans.
