Elm spanworms invade Assiniboine Avenue in downtown Winnipeg
CBC News | Posted: June 19, 2014 3:49 AM | Last Updated: June 19, 2014
Second caterpillar species to descend over city core in recent days
Just as you were getting use to the wave of forest tent caterpillars across the city, elm spanworms have been found in Winnipeg.
The spanworms were found on Assiniboine Avenue Wednesday afternoon.
The caterpillars are capable of stripping the leaves from big shade trees and they can reproduce at an impressive rate, each female capable of laying as many as 250 eggs.
To rid masses of elm spanworm eggs from trees, homeowners can cleave twigs and little branches from trees.
Dousing leaves with BTK to control worms is another approach, but because rain washes it away homeowners must reapply the product following a downpour.