How to Kill Silk Worm Infestations

A silk worm infestation can cause many problems. It creates large and ugly nests in the branches of trees and shrubs. Besides making trees look terrible, silk worms can damage places where nests are made. Silk worm nests are home to a large quantity of silk worms. This can make it difficult to exterminate an entire infestation on the first try.

Things You'll Need

  • Broom
  • Sheers
  • Insecticide
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Instructions

    • 1

      Identify the nests silk worms have made. They have a silky, almost spider web look to them, but they are thicker. The longer the nests are allowed to live, the thicker and more numerous they become. The nests can stretch over numerous branches and encompass large amounts of leaves.

    • 2

      Sheer the branches that webs built on. Also, remove leaves that have silk worm larvae on them. You can also tear down the nests already created. Knocking them out of branches with a broom or large stick is the best method. Place all the branches, nests and infected leaves in a trash bag and dispose of properly.

    • 3

      Break open nests in trees to eliminate silk worm infestations naturally. This allows bugs and birds the opportunity to eat them. Once torn open, insecticides can be used to eliminate remaining silk worms. Insecticides do not work if they cannot penetrate the webs created by silk worms. Insecticides that contain carbaryl, chlorpyrifos, diazinon, malathion and tebufenozide as an active ingredient work. Spray these insecticides carefully with a nose-end sprayer to be effective.

    • 4

      Call a professional exterminator to spray for silk worms in locations that are too high to reach safely.