Question
I read your advice on web worms but none of it is going to work for me.  First, mine are in the advanced stages and from 20 to 60 feet up in both pecan trees and now my sycamore tree.  Is there anything I can do at the ground level to combat them?  I rarely see any on the actual trunk of the tree, as the usually crawl down to the lower branches and "drop" on whatever is underneath, including my head, my patio furniture, etc.  Help!!

Answer
It is more than likely too late to spray Bt on the foliage since the caterpillars are already in the webs. Since the tree is too tall to break open the webs so birds can feed on the caterpillars about the only this you might do is treat the tree trunk and attack the caterpillars as they move down the trunk.

When the caterpillars start to pupate they will crawl down the tree trunk looking for a hiding place. You can at this time use a product called tanglefoot. It is sticky and is spread either on the trunk or on a band of tape around the trunk. The caterpillars will crawl down the trunk when they are looking for a place to pupate and get stuck in the tanglefoot. You can also spray the trunk with an insecticide called Orthene and this will do the same thing--as the caterpillar crawls down the trunk it get Orthene on its body killing the insect. Orthene is a systemic insecticide and lasts longer than Sevin and can be used on the foliage as well. Check with your local nursery for these products. http://www.tanglefoot.com/products/index.htm


I would use the orthene unless you take something like tree wrap and warp the trunk in six inch strips and apply the tanglefoot foot to the paper. Tangle foot is very sticky and messy that is why I would use the northerner spray on the trunk.

The good news is they will not kill the tree if you do not do anything. This  late in the year it will not have any effect on the growth.They will cause a reduction in the amount of pecans that will be on the tree next year.