Budworm Control: How to Get Rid of Budworms

This page is a general DIY guide on controlling budworms. Using the products and methods suggested, you will get control of budworms. Follow this guide and use the recommended products; we guarantee 100% control of budworms.

Budworm is a native caterpillar pest found throughout the eastern and southwestern half of the United States. These late-summer caterpillar pests, also known as tobacco budworms or geranium budworms, are common in trees, shrubs, and ornamental foliage. While they infest tobacco plants, they are found more in geranium plant species and other ornamental foliage like rose buds or marigolds.

Typically, budworms feed on plant leaves throughout the night and hide in the surrounding soil during the day. Once grown, these pests become moths that can travel across multiple distances in your property to spread the infestation further. Controlling budworms often proves difficult since they are resistant to most insecticides. They can also tunnel further into plant stems or buds to escape insecticide applications.

Though budworms are challenging to control, it is still possible to implement an early treatment control when first noticed. Follow the steps in this DIY guide to learn more about budworms and effectively eliminate them using the recommended products.

Identification

Before you can proceed with treatment, you need to be sure that the pest you are dealing with is a budworm, not some other type of insect. Misidentification can lead you to use the wrong treatment methods and products, which can waste time and money. Here are some identifying characteristics of budworms.

• Budworms are small caterpillars that grow up to 1 inch in length. Depending on what is being eaten, they come in a wide range of colors, including brown, red, green, and sometimes purple. Many budworms have light strips and numerous erect, thin hairs along their abdomen. This pest's head capsule is brown.
• When mature, budworms will pupate and emerge from their cocoons as brown moths with a 1.5-inch wingspan. In their moth stage, budworms will have a set of butterfly-like wings.
• Adult budworm moths are pale green with brown or gray undertone coloration. They will also have wavy cream-brown stripes across their 1.5-inch wingspan.

Use the image and description above to help you identify this pest. If you are unsure, contact us with a photo of your pest and send it by email or in person at one of our store locations where our trained experts can properly identify it.

Inspection

After identifying budworms on your property, you will need to conduct an inspection. During this phase, you will need to determine the species of plants being infested and areas where feeding activity occurs. This will help you pinpoint your insecticide applications, which will lessen unnecessary product usage.

Where to Inspect

Budworms are caterpillar pests that can be found on outdoor ornamental plants, bushes, shrubs, trees, and gardens. Inspect the foliage closest to outdoor light fixtures, as this is a common location for adult moths to lay their eggs.

What to Look For

Like most caterpillars, budworms damage plants by leaving irregular, small holes in the stems, leaves, buds, and flowers. Budworms actively feed on plants during the evening, so walk your property with a flashlight to find these pests. During the day, they drop down to hide in the soil. You can look for hiding budworms with a small shovel or a till.

Remember not to travel too deep, as this may damage plant roots. From July to August, budworm moths will lay white to yellowish spherical eggs on the surface of plant leaves. In about two weeks after egg laying, these larvae will emerge and travel into the soil until they are ready to cocoon into adults.

Treatment

Once you have confirmed budworm activity, you will begin treatment. Remember to read all product labels, as they may affect each plant's surface differently. When mixing or applying this insecticide, you must also wear the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).

Treatment for budworms will need to be done prior to egg-laying activity or when they are relatively young. We recommend spraying your yard from June to Early July with insecticides containing permethrin, cyfluthrin, esfenvalerate, or bifenthrin. Budworms are resistant to most insecticides, especially ones with pyrethroids.

Step 1: Measure and Mix Supreme IT

Supreme IT is a broad-spectrum liquid insecticide containing 7.9% bifenthrin as its active ingredient. It will eliminate budworms and other types of pests. Once applied, it will protect your lawn, ornamentals, home perimeter, and other types of terrain for up to 90 days.

Determine how much Supreme IT to use by measuring the square footage of the treatment site. To do this, measure the length and width of the treatment site in feet and multiply (length X width = square footage). 

To treat budworms, you will use 0.25 to 0.5 oz. of Supreme IT per gallon of water per 1,000 sq. ft.

In a backpack or handheld sprayer, fill the tank halfway with water, add the measured amount of Supreme IT, and pour in the remaining half of the water. Close the sprayer tank lid and shake to ensure even mixing. Once mixed, you will be ready to spray.

Step 2: Spray Supreme IT During Dusk or Evening

Conduct your application during dusk or evening when budworms are active. Apply the Supreme IT solution to ornamental plants and shrubbery on your property, ensuring the leaves' tops and bottoms are wet.

If you have flowering ornamentals and are concerned about bees or other pollinating insects, apply Supreme IT over the soil underneath your plants. Do not apply this product to plants grown for consumption or to flower beds.

Next, apply your solution as a barrier treatment around your home’s perimeter and light fixtures to repel adult moths that may lay eggs. Be sure to spray 3 feet up and 3 feet from the foundation.

Budworm caterpillars and moths that contact the product or its residual will have their nervous systems impacted and die in several hours. It may take up to two weeks to see a noticeable reduction in pest activity.

Prevention

After the budworm has been eliminated from your yard, it is important to implement some preventative measures to ensure this pest does not return. Listed below are several preventative measures to take to fight against future budworm infestations.

• First, keep up with routine lawn care and maintenance. Healthier lawns are less prone to infestation and easily recover from minor damage. If you have spotted signs of pest damage on foliage, prune away those dead plant limbs to encourage new growth and remove any potential budworms hiding in stems.
• Avoid planting plant species that budworms prefer, or be prepared to cover desired foliage species during the night from June to August.
• Turn the porch and other outdoor light fixtures off at night during the summer and early fall to deter budworm moths from the property. If you have white outdoor lighting, consider switching to warmer, yellow lights. Many nocturnal insects, like moths, are attracted to white lights, so switching to yellow lighting will reduce activity around your home.
• Replace soil surrounding plants with appropriate fertilizers to deter budworms from hiding in the earth and remove potential hiding places.
• Finally, implement a spray application of Supreme IT during June or the first half of July, as this is when budworm moths are breeding and laying eggs. This product lasts for up to 90 days, so we recommend you make treatments every three months to ensure protection year-round.

Key Takeaways

What are Budworms?

• Budworms are caterpillars of moths that feed on outdoor ornamental plants and shrubs. They tend to feed on geranium and nicotine plants.

How to Get Rid of Budworms

• Bifenthrin-based insecticides like Supreme IT can be applied during the dusk and evening hours to help prevent and remove budworms residing in foliage. To deter budworm activity, apply Supreme IT across your yard, ornamental foliage, and the perimeter of your home's foundation.

Preventing Budworms Reinfestation

• Preventative applications of Supreme IT around your home and yard during June and the first half of July will cease budworm infestation. You must also replace the soil around desired foliage to eliminate suitable habitats or current budworms hiding in the dirt.