Basic Info:
The carpenter worm's life cycle takes 3-4 years to complete in the Prairie Provinces. Larvae pupate in feeding tunnels cut when they burrow into the trees, and adult moths emerge in June. Both male and female moths are mottled gray, but the hind wings of males are orange. Females have a wingspan of 65-75 mm and males of about 50 mm. After mating in June, females fly to host trees where they deposit up to 300 eggs in bark crevices and near wounds. Trees that have been attacked before are often preferred sites for oviposition; these trees are known as brood trees. After the eggs hatch in about 2 weeks, each brood tree may contain several hundred larvae, which burrow into the stem. Larvae are small and green-white, with brown heads and thoracic shields (a hard shield directly behind the head). Once larvae have burrowed into the tree stem, they take up to 4 years to reach their full size of 50-75 mm. Tunnels created by larvae are extensive and often intersect. Larvae keep tunnels clear of frass or debris by pushing it out of the entry holes. Pupation occurs in May of the final year of development when larvae are full-grown.
What We Recommend:
1) Encourage natural predators to be around your site. Aka birds or parasitic wasps.
2) Avoid unnecessary injury to the bark which encourages better oviposition sites for the insect.
3) Heavily infected trees should be removed and destroyed to prevent spreading the insects to other trees.
4) Water and fertilize trees to keep them less susceptible to attacks.
Trees Effected: Balsam Poplar, Common lilac, European Black Poplar, European White Poplar, Green Ash, Hybrid Poplar, Lombardy poplar, Poplars, Aspen, Cottonwoods, Trembling Aspen.
Government Informational Source Link:
https://tidcf.nrcan.gc.ca/en/insects/factsheet/8246
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