Bagworms: What They Are, When to Watch, and How Green Seasons Lawns Handles Them
Do you see damage?
If you've seen unusual damage to your evergreen trees or shrubs, especially thinning or browning branches, you might be dealing with a common summer pest: bagworms. At Green Seasons Lawns, we help homeowners identify, prevent, and control these damaging insects before they harm your landscape.
What Are Bagworms?
Bagworms (Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis) are harmful caterpillars that hide in spindle-shaped bags made of silk and pieces of the plants they eat. These bags dangle from trees and shrubs, easily going unnoticed until the damage becomes serious.
As they feed, bagworms strip leaves from several plants, including:
- Junipers
- Arborvitae
- Cedars
- Spruce
- Pine
- Some deciduous trees like maple or oak
Once defoliated, many plants—especially evergreens—have a hard time recovering and may die if the infestations are severe enough.
When Do Bagworms Appear?
Bagworms usually hatch from late May to early June in Missouri. The larvae come out and start feeding right away, building their bags as they grow. By July, they are fully active, and that’s when the damage is most visible.
By late summer, they seal themselves in their bags to pupate and turn into moths. The females stay inside the bag and lay up to 1,000 eggs, restarting the cycle.
How Green Seasons Treats Bagworms
At Green Seasons Lawn and Tree, we take a proactive and effective approach to protect your landscape:
Monitoring & Early Detection We keep a close eye on seasonal patterns and start looking for bagworm activity as early as May.
Targeted Spraying We apply professional insecticide treatments during the best time—June through early July—when the larvae are most vulnerable. Timing matters, and our experts know exactly when to act.
Customized Lawn & Landscape Plans Every yard is unique, so we personalize our treatments based on your plant types and infestation levels. If you've faced bagworm problems before, we’ll work to prevent them.
Don’t Let Bagworms Take Over Your Landscape If you think you might have bagworms or want to protect your evergreens before any damage occurs, give us a call. We’ll evaluate your property and handle everything from there.
Green Seasons Lawn and Tree Service 816-532-0173 Serving the Northland with reliable, professional care.
