REGINA – Now that summer is upon us, Regina residents might start seeing more tent caterpillars.
The bugs swarm together most commonly on green ash and poplar trees for a feeding frenzy. Other common feeding grounds include trembling aspen, birch, saskatoon, apple and mayday trees.
Although this tent caterpillar season is in full swing, homeowners should take preventative measures to keep these bugs out of your backyard. The city suggests avoiding planting these types of trees and to keep your trees well-watered and healthy.
If an infestation is already in place, residents can use a Bt-based spray to treat it.
“These insects have evolved along with the trees, and it’s that sort of love-hate relationship,” Russell Eirich, the manager of forestry, pest control and horticulture at City of Regina.
Although the defoliating insects can create an environmental concern Eirich added, “one year isn’t going to hurt the trees, two-year probably isn’t, but if we started to see this continually over three to four or five years you’ll probably start to see some die back in the trees themselves.”
Eirich said that the pests have become a bigger issue for the city this year.
“We are starting to set up and get our sprayers ready for this.”