Insect ID please: Got these things all over the place. I've never seen them before. There's a little worm-like thing that wriggles out a little bit and acts a bit skittish when...

TomC. Loc: Bel Air, MD

Got these things all over the place. I've never seen them before. There's a little worm-like thing that wriggles out a little bit and acts a bit skittish when handled. I see them hanging from trees and bushes by a thin web string and they just spin with the breeze. What research I've done indicates some sort of bag worm.
Any help would be appreciated.

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Brucej67 Loc: Cary, NC

TomC. wrote:

Got these things all over the place. I've never seen them before. There's a little worm-like thing that wriggles out a little bit and acts a bit skittish when handled. I see them hanging from trees and bushes by a thin web string and they just spin with the breeze. What research I've done indicates some sort of bag worm.
Any help would be appreciated.

I could be wrong, but it appears to be a stone fly.

JRiepe Loc: Southern Illinois

https://blog.davey.com/2018/04/bagworms-are-they-harmful-and-how-can-i-get-rid-of-them/
These are bagworms and they are bad news destroying trees. You need to kill as many as you can and treat the trees, shrubs, whatever they're on with Malathion. I haven't seen any this year on any of my trees and I hope I don't. I had them the previous two years though.

JRiepe Loc: Southern Illinois

JRiepe wrote:

https://blog.davey.com/2018/04/bagworms-are-they-harmful-and-how-can-i-get-rid-of-them/
These are bagworms and they are bad news destroying trees. You need to kill as many as you can and treat the trees, shrubs, whatever they're on with Malathion. I haven't seen any this year on any of my trees and I hope I don't. I had them the previous two years though.

This is one from last year taken off one of my evergreen trees. Malathion is best used in the larvae stage but I would still use it. You need to pick off and kill as many as you can reach.

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TomC. Loc: Bel Air, MD

JRiepe wrote:

https://blog.davey.com/2018/04/bagworms-are-they-harmful-and-how-can-i-get-rid-of-them/
These are bagworms and they are bad news destroying trees. You need to kill as many as you can and treat the trees, shrubs, whatever they're on with Malathion. I haven't seen any this year on any of my trees and I hope I don't. I had them the previous two years though.

Unfortunately, I think my Arborvitae tree/bush is long gone. It's turning brown all over, plus it's overgrown. I'm having my landscaper come out and give me a price to remove it. It's been there a very long time. There are literally hundreds of these worms all over it. If you stare at the tree for a minute, you'll start seeing movement in various places and then you start noticing the insects hanging all over the place. They really are pretty camouflaged throughout.

JRiepe Loc: Southern Illinois

At least from here forward you'll know what to look for in the future. Research as much as you can so you can keep them at bay. The life cycle of these are very interesting. After reading your post I rechecked my evergreens but lucked out this year. Next year the very last of May or first of June you may want to check for larvae and treat with Malathion.

TomC. Loc: Bel Air, MD

JRiepe wrote:

At least from here forward you'll know what to look for in the future. Research as much as you can so you can keep them at bay. The life cycle of these are very interesting. After reading your post I rechecked my evergreens but lucked out this year. Next year the very last of May or first of June you may want to check for larvae and treat with Malathion.

I'm having the Arborvitae removed next week.