Caterpillar Infestation - Ask Extension
Greetings,
I work for the University of Vermont Medical center. We have a site at 192 Tilley Drive which has Burning Bush plants around the building....
Knowledgebase
Caterpillar Infestation #871324
Asked June 03, 2024, 1:50 PM EDT
Greetings,
I work for the University of Vermont Medical center. We have a site at 192 Tilley Drive which has Burning Bush plants around the building. These plants have become infested with a gray with black spotted caterpillars (please see attached picture). We would like to identify the pest and explore non-chemical control options. Your help would be appreciated.
thank you
Ted
Chittenden County Vermont
Expert Response
Hello Ted:
Thank you for reaching out to the UVM Extension Master Gardener Helpline.
We are pretty sure these are Euonymus webworm, Yponomeuta cagnagella - https://hyg.ipm.illinois.edu/pastpest/200806g.html
These links provide control methods.
I did want to take this opportunity to share with you that the Burning Bush is on the VT Invasives list. Perhaps consider pulling these plants and replanting with something similar that is native to Vermont (the VT Invasives site lists some Native-Non-Invasive alternatives).
Hope this helps.
Thank you for reaching out to the UVM Extension Master Gardener Helpline.
We are pretty sure these are Euonymus webworm, Yponomeuta cagnagella - https://hyg.ipm.illinois.edu/pastpest/200806g.html
These links provide control methods.
I did want to take this opportunity to share with you that the Burning Bush is on the VT Invasives list. Perhaps consider pulling these plants and replanting with something similar that is native to Vermont (the VT Invasives site lists some Native-Non-Invasive alternatives).
Hope this helps.
