The warm weather that’s finally sticking around in Saskatoon has brought out the forest tent caterpillars, cankerworms and leafrollers.
Tent caterpillars feed on a large variety of trees, including ash, poplar, and chokecherry, while cankersworms prefer elm and maple trees.
READ MORE: Tent Caterpillars move into popular Saskatchewan Park next to Manitoba border
Leafrollers are found hidden in leaves of primarily ash trees, although they are known to attack other trees.
The trees do typically recover and produce new foliage unless there are underlying issues,
Get daily National news
This is the fourth year there’s been an outbreak in the city, which typically lasts from three to seven years.
City officials said tree branding can be used to control cankerworms, but is not effective against tent caterpillars or leafrollers.
READ MORE: Swarms of forest tent caterpillars in Saskatoon a nuisance
The best time for banding is between September and May to prevent wingless adult female cankerworm moths from climbing trees to lay their eggs.
- Montreal vigil honours 3-year-old killed in LaSalle bouncy castle accident
- Vitali Stefanski denies harming ex-wife Tatjana during murder trial testimony
- ETS taking over Valley Line LRT operations from TransEd more than 2 decades early
- Corman Park delays P4G exit decision, sets 6‑month negotiation window
Bands should be removed in June to prevent trees from rotting.
Experts say if you do have the critters, you’re best to seek advice from a local garden centre.
Comments
Want to discuss? Please read our Commenting Policy first.