Sometimes fine cobwebs cover the apple tree as if magically woven. In this article we will show you which pest creates the webs and how you can deal with the animals in an ecologically friendly way.
What causes cobwebs on apple trees?
If silky cobwebs stretch over the apple tree like adelicate web, theapple spider moth (Yponomeuta malinellus) is almost always responsible for this. Especially after mild winters with little snow, many of the caterpillars that live together in the webs and feed on the leaves survive.
How do I recognize the apple web moth?
The apple web moths, which are approximately one centimeter in size, havegrayish-white wings with black dots The body is completely hairless, the wingspan is about 25 millimeters. The butterfly larvae, which are up to 25 millimeters long, are yellowish to brownish in color. The dark head stands out clearly from the almost hairless body. This is divided into ten segments, each with a dark dot on each side.
How do web moths live?
From Juneuntil Augustswarmingthe adult web moths andlayingtheirEggson the branches andshootsof theapple tree. Arranged like roof tiles, these are well protected by a hardening secretion layer.
After a few weeks, the caterpillars hatch and hibernate under the hard layer. They only begin their feeding activity in May and form the typical cobwebs to protect themselves from the weather and enemies, under which they also pupate.
What do the cobwebs of spider moths look like?
If the infestation is severe, theapple tree is completely coveredby delicate,white-colored spider webs,whose threads lie very close to one another.
Although a tree wrapped in this way usually sprouts again quickly, the webs are not a purely visual problem. The affected fruit trees are weakened by the leaf damage and will bear significantly less weight in the next few years. That's why you should fight web moths in an ecologically friendly way.
How can I fight the spider moth?
The simplest and most successful method of combating the apple spider moth iscollecting the caterpillars:
- Place a large cloth under the apple tree.
- Remove the cobwebs with a broom or rinse them from the leaves with a hard jet of water.
- Collect the insects and their webs from the ground.
- Dispose of everything in household waste.
- Then attach a glue ring (€9.00 on Amazon) to the trunk to prevent isolated larvae.
Tip
Ornate cobwebs in the apple tree
If the webs in the apple tree are spider webs, you should not destroy them and protect the eight-legged creatures, because spiders need peace and quiet to hunt. The extremely useful animals feed exclusively on aphids, flies, mosquitoes or insects and thus help to keep the number of pests in the garden low.
