wasp get his worm

[Beap52 811]

Walking around the back yard today, I walked by a pecan tree that has worms that build webs.  I saw a wasp that seemed pretty interested in the worms inside and after a bit, he crawled into the web.  Apparently this web isn't sticky like spider's webs.  I videoed the wasp but they aren't very clear.  Here is a picture of the wasp inside the web. As he entered, he bit into little balls that I suppose are eggs or egg casings however none of them suited him.   Once inside and near a branch he began eating something off of the branch. 

[Beap52 811]

As the wasp was exiting, he finally nailed a worm.  He sucked the juice out of the worm until it was only 1/8th of it's original size.  At first I didn't think the wasp was after the worms.  They noticed when he penetrated the web and began thrashing about.  He chased a couple and they emitted green juice that I assumed was not tasty so they managed to escape.  When he did focus on a worm, it was game over for it.  The wasp would claw his way through the web and every once in a while stop and groom himself.  That's how I killed 15 minutes today.

[WHX?? 48,815]

I believe those are tent catapillers?? 

Those can be just as devastating as the wasp. 

[ebinmaine 67,455]

28 minutes ago, WHX?? said:

I believe those are tent catapillers?? 

Those can be just as devastating as the wasp. 

Agreed. 

My understanding is there are different types depending on location. 

We have one here in Maine that locates in the same tree year after year.  

Apparently the birds and spiders are not able to penetrate the silk nest so the caterpillars keep expanding population unless you can open a nest.  

 

We've used long sticks, longer sticks, and thrown stuff at them. 

Also used a 20 gauge shotgun. That works well.  😃

 

Last fall during the barn build we asked the crew to use their man lift to break open the nests we could never reach. 

This year.....?

No caterpillars... Yet...

 

 

[WHX?? 48,815]

Some years they are way worse than others... mother nature thing. They can strip a tree of green in no time. I favor a 🔥 thrower EB ... 

[ebinmaine 67,455]

13 minutes ago, WHX?? said:

🔥 thrower

This 🐻 does not own one. And that's probably a good thing.   

[oliver2-44 9,743]

We have those bag worms in Pecan trees. The can get bad if you don’t keep after them. I use a 20 ft piece of 3/4” steel tubing with a rag soaked (but not dripping) in diesel tightly wired to the end.  It’s a little clumsy to work around the trees. Thankfully no overhead wires in the area.  My wife insist on standing by with the water hose. 

[Ed Kennell 38,158]

The bag worms seem to be the real tree killers in my area.

 

 

Anyone seeing any spotted lantern flys?        After trapping gallons of them in the past two years, I expected to a real problem this year, but have not seen a one ...YET.

 

 

 

 

[Handy Don 12,216]

I saw one last year. Photo; report; squash.

Nothing so far this year, either.

[lynnmor 7,305]

We have both the fall webworms and the Eastern tent caterpillars.  I can remember my Mom going to war against them, she would take an old broom to torch the nests.