Question
I have a pine tree that is has some new inhabitants..they appear to be spiked worms that have attached themselves to the limbs and wrapped themselves around...any idea what they may be? and how to get rid of them?

Answer
Sounds it could be bagworms. here is a link to pictures of the spiked bag. http://www.ag.auburn.edu/enpl/bulletins/bagworm/photo9.htm
These insects eat the foliage of the conifers but stay in the bag.
They can be controlled by mechanical measures or with insecticides.

Cultural Control-Mechanical Hand Picking If the bags are few in number and easily reached they may be picked off the plant and squashed. This can be done easily in the late fall when deciduous foliage has been dropped or the bits of plant material on the bags turn brown and can be easily located on evergreens. Be sure to cut the attachment silk band so that the branch will not be girdled in the future.

Biological Control-Use the Bacterial Spray Bt The bacterium, Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), is effective against bagworms if it is used against young larvae. Applications should be made at the end of June after all the eggs have hatched and the larvae are through ballooning.


Chemical Control-Insecticide Sprays Stomach insecticides are very useful for control of bagworms. Remember that the plant foliage is to be thoroughly covered because the larvae are protected from contact by being in the silk bag. Again, early sprays against young larvae are more effective than later applications. Products registered for bagworm control are: acephate (Orthene),  bifenthrin (Talstar), carbaryl (Sevin), chlorpyrifos (Dursban), diazinon, dimethoate (Cygon),  malathion, nicotine sulfate, pyrethrum, and  rotenone.

Here is a web link to more inforamation on bagworms.
http://woodypests.cas.psu.edu/factsheets/InsectFactSheets/html/Bagworm.html