Bagworm Control: How To Get Rid of Bagworms

This page is a general Bagworm control guide. Using the products and methods suggested will get rid of Bagworms. Follow this guide and use the recommended products and we guarantee successful control of Bagworms on your property.

Have you noticed an unexplainable discoloration or browning of your trees and shrubs? The cause may be from the actions of Bagworms. Bagworms are destructive insects that attack many species of trees and shrubs but are most often found on conifers like juniper, pine, arborvitae, cyprus, cedar, and spruce.

They get the name “bagworms” due to the insect wrapping themselves up in cocoon-like “bags” made from twigs, leaves, and self-spun silk. Once nestled in this self-made bag, a female Bagworm can lay between 500 to 1,000 eggs—meaning your Bagworm problem will multiply into a major infestation if left unchecked. Each egg will hatch into another Bagworm that will be ready to rip into any foliage nearby.

Once you know you have a bagworm infestation on your property, it’s best to act quickly to eliminate them. However, the tricky part about it is that bagworms are usually not noticed right away because the bags they reside in usually fool homeowners who confuse the bags with pine cones.

If you have Bagworms in your yard, it is important to act quickly to take down the infestation because it will continue to grow and do damage. Follow our DIY Bagworm control guide where we explain how to get rid of Bagworms in 4 simple steps.

Identification

Before you can carry out a treatment method you need to identify that you are facing a Bagworms infestation. Knowing how Bagworms look is an important part of identifying them properly. Here are some key traits to watch out for. 

• The best way to tell if you have a Bagworm infestation is by identifying the spindle-like bags they create. 
• The bags are made of silk, and parts of foliage.
• They are brown in color and may have spines throughout.
• They usually measure about 2 inches in length.
• Each bag holds approximately 500 to 1,000 eggs.
• Female Bagworms remain in the bags for the entirety of their lives.
• Males adults are about 18 to 25 mm in length.
• Male adults are black in color and look like small moths with transparent wings.
• Male bagworms will emerge from the bag in late August after mating with the female inside.

Use the image and description above to help you in determining that you are seeing Bagworms. If you need help, contact us and one of our pros will help you with proper identification.

Inspection

Once you have confirmed the identification of Bagworms on your property, you need to inspect your deciduous trees (trees which have leaves that change color and shed in the fall and grow new leaves come springtime) and evergreens (trees that have leaves which stay green all year long). During the inspection, you will focus your search on your vegetation looking for Bagworms activity.

Where To Inspect

Bagworm infestations will only be exclusive to the outdoors and in vegetation, so search in your vegetation especially in your conifers like juniper, pine, arborvitae, cyprus, cedar, and spruce. They might also infest smaller shrubs and bushes, so also look in this vegetation.

What To Look For

You’re looking for the Bagworm cocoons or bags. They resemble pine cones, but are about 2 inches in size, and might have overhanging spines throughout. If you have located these bags on your trees or shrubs, mark them as an area where you will focus your chemical treatment.

Treatment

Once you have confirmed Bagworms activity it is time to begin treatment. Remember to first read all product labels and follow the application instructions on these labels, and stay safe by wearing personal protective equipment (PPE).

The best way to get rid of Bagworms is to treat infestations with Supreme IT Insecticide. This product is labeled to kill Bagworms and delivers exceptional control with a long residual so you don't have to re-apply as often.

Step 1 - Outdoor Treatment with Supreme IT

Supreme IT is a broad-spectrum insecticide that is labeled for treating Bagworms. It also has a long residual effect that continues to kill for up to 90 days after application.

To apply Supreme IT, simply mix water in a hand pump or hose-end sprayer then add Supreme IT at a rate of 0.18 to 0.25 fl. oz. per gallon to cover 1,000 sq. ft. Measure the square footage of your lawn to determine how much Supreme IT you need to cover the entire area then add the appropriate amount to your sprayer with water. Shake well and pump your sprayer and you're ready to apply.

Time your treatment to when Bagworms are hatching from their cocoons which is usually in late May or early to mid-June. Spray the Supreme IT onto your tree, making sure to direct the application to contact as many Bagworm larvae as possible. Use a fan spray setting to get nice uniform coverage. 

For Bagworms that are too high to reach with a pump-up sprayer, you may need to use a ladder to get closer to the Bagworms and aim the sprayer via pinstream nozzle setting.

Prevention

After treatment, you will want to make sure Bagworms do not re-establish themselves on your trees. Examine your tree periodically for Bagworms and manually get rid of any bags you are able to find. This by far is the best method of prevention since any insecticide will not be able to penetrate the cocoons.

Handpick the bags off your trees and drown them in a bucket of soapy water. You could alternatively put them bag and dispose of them far away from your property. Finally, remember to spray Supreme IT in late May and early to mid-June the time when Bagworms will be hatching from their bags.

Key Takeaways

What Are Bagworms?

• Bagworms are larvae or caterpillars that enjoy feeding on trees and can be very damaging when established in a yard.
• Bagworms are a rising pest in orchards and landscapes. They are native to North America and are common throughout the United States. Bagworms will feed on many different kinds of trees and shrubs but seem to prefer spruce and juniper.

How To Get Rid of Bagworms in the Yard

• An application of Supreme IT Insecticide when larvae have started to hatch and are young can successfully control any infestation of Bagworms. This is usually around late May or early to mid-June.
• Mix Supreme IT in a handpump sprayer and apply to your infested tree to knockdown Bagworms.

Preventing Bagworm Reinfestation

• Prevent Bagworm reinfestation by handpicking off any Bagworm cocoons you see and applying preventative applications of Supreme IT to your tree.