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 and 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 budworm or geranium budworm are common in trees, shrubs, and ornamental foliage. While they do infest tobacco plants they are found more on geranium plant species and other types of ornamental foliage like rose buds or marigolds.

Typically, budworms tend to 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 infestation further. Controlling budworms often proves to difficult since these pests are resistant to most insecticides. They also have the ability to tunnel further into plant stems or buds to escape insecticide applications.

Though budworms are difficult to control it is still possible by implementing an early treatment control when first noticed. Follow the steps listed in this DIY guide to learn more about budworms and effectively eliminate them by 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 and not some other type of insect. Misidentification can lead you to using the wrong treatment methods and products, which can end up being a waste of time and money. Here are some identifying characteristics of budworms.

• Budworm are small caterpillars that grow up to 1 inch in length. They come in a wide range of colors from brown, red, green, and sometimes purple depending on what is being eaten. Many budworms will have light strips running along the side of its abdomen, and numerous erect thin hairs. The head capsule of this pest will be 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 its 1.5 inch wingspan.

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

Inspection

After you have identified budworms on your property, you will need to carry out an inspection. During this phase, you will need to determine the species of plants being infested and areas where feeding activity is happening. This will help you pinpoint your insecticide applications, which helps to lessen unnecessary usage of product.

Where to Inspect

As caterpillar pests, budworms 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 caterpillar damages, budworms will leave irregular small shaped holes in the stems, leaves, buds, and flowers of plants. 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 to not travel too deep as this may cause damage to plant roots. From July to August, budworm moths will lay white to yellowish spherical shaped eggs on the surface of plant leaves. In about 2 weeks after egg laying these larvae will emerge and travel into the soil until it ready to cocoon into adult.

Treatment

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

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

Step 1: Measure and Mix Supreme IT

Supreme IT is a broad-spectrum liquid insecticide that contains 7.9% of bifenthrin as its active ingredient, which will eliminate budworms and other types of pest. Once applied it will protect your lawn, ornamentals, perimeter of home, 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, you will need to 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 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, making sure to wet the tops and bottoms of leaves. If you have flowering ornamentals and are concerned about bees or other pollinating insects, then 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 around light fixtures to repel adult moths that may lay eggs. Be sure to spray 3 feet up and 3 feet out from the foundation.

Budworm caterpillars and moths that make contact with the product or its residual will have their nervous systems impacted and will die in several hours. It may take up to 2 weeks before you 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 porch and other outdoor light fixtures off at night during the summer and early fall to deter budworm moths from 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 hiding in earth and remove potential hiding places.
• Finally, implement a spray application of Supreme IT during June or 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 3 months to ensure protection year-round.

Key Takeaways

What are Budworms?

• Budworms are caterpillars of moths that feed on outdoor ornamental plants and shrubs. In particular, budworms tend to feed on geranium and nicotine plants.

How to Get Rid of Budworms

• Applications of bifenthrin based insecticides like Supreme IT during the dusk and evening hours will help to prevent and remove budworms residing in foliage. Apply Supreme IT across your yard, ornamental foliage, and perimeter of homes foundation to deter budworm activity.

Preventing Budworms Reinfestation

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