Caterpillar Infestation Threatening to Destroy Trees Around Lake

THEY ARE NOT ARMYWORMS

If I see one Caterpillar, I think to myself, "Oh cool...that is a cool looking bug." When I see caterpillars piled on top of each other, I think to myself, "That's gross." I feel like I'm in a horror movie scene.

FOREST TENT CATERPILLARS

If you live a little further to the north in Minnesota, you may be experiencing this Forest Tent Caterpillar frenzy. According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, there is heavy Forest Tent Caterpillar defoliation of the forest on the east side of Mille Lacs Lake.

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According to the article I found from KSTP, the caterpillars come around in great numbers every 10 to 16 years. What makes it worse this year, is the dry conditions that we are having. Less water for the tree making it harder for the tree to survive the attack.

It doesn't seem to like any particular tree over another. They just go from one tree to the next and do their damage.

The experts have been expecting this to happen for quite a few years, but this year being so dry, definitely makes it worse.

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO PROTECT YOUR TREES

What can you do to protect your trees from these pests? Honestly, it doesn't sound like there's much you can do. It is recommended that you should pick out a couple trees that you really want to try and save, and water them heavily so the trees can have a fighting chance. Otherwise, you can try to use some Dawn dishwashing liquid on the worms to get rid of them.

For more information about the Forest Tent Caterpillar, you can click HERE.

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