Knowledgebase
Can you identify #879031
Asked July 27, 2024, 4:18 PM EDT
Ramsey County Minnesota
Expert Response
Hi Kathleen,
I think I need more information. I see a large green caterpillar looking insect. I don't see anything around the trunk. What kind of tree is this and what are they doing ? Are they crawling up the tree ?
https://extension.umn.edu/yard-and-garden-insects/caterpillars-ornamental-plants
Sally Granath
St. Louis County MG
The "caterpiller" we believe is a moth crawling around stone fireplace. My gardener thought it was causing the reddish debris around my pines.
Another opinion has been this debris is the work of red squirrels since the bark is intact.
The "caterpiller" we believe is a moth crawling around stone fireplace. My gardener thought it was causing the reddish debris around my pines.
Another opinion has been this debris is the work of red squirrels since the bark is intact.
Dear Kathleen,
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YOUR QUESTION #0148949:
Can you identify
What is this? Is it harmful, especially to my trees. Have larvae under rocks at base of tree and also sending change at ground of several pinesAsk Extension offers one-to-one expert answers from Cooperative Extension/University staff and volunteers within participating Land-Grant institutions across the United States.
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I can't zoom in on the caterpillar so I can't see details. Here is a link on large caterpillars that are common;
https://ask2.extension.org/kb/faq.php?id=808126
I agree with your gardener that the debris under the tree is squirrel related and not the result of the caterpillar. I don't know of any large green caterpillars that cause problems to trees.