Cankerworm Workshops Offered this Fall by Trees Across Durham

Banding trees with Tanglefoot in late fall will capture cankerworms
as they travel up tree trunks to lay their eggs on the leaves
 in the spring. Photo by Trees Across Durham.

Protect Durham's shade trees from defoliating cankerworms!

Trees Across Durham is offering three preventative workshops in September followed by banding and gluing sessions in October and November. Register today and save your trees this spring.

  

Cankerworms

 

Cankerworms are pests that threaten the health of trees in Durham, and throughout the United States. You have probably seen these little green inchworms in the fall (Alsophilia pometaria) and spring (Paleacrita vernata). They fall from trees covering sidewalks, cars, and people. Aside from being inconvenient, both types of cankerworms feed on leaves of trees and shrubs, weakening plants and increasing their susceptibility to pests and environmental stressors such as drought and heat.

 

Cankerworms have reached outbreak levels over the last few years in Durham. This abundance is partially due to the cankerworm’s affinity for over mature willow oaks, like those that line the streets of Durham’s neighborhoods. The cankerworm’s extensive feeding leaves Durham trees even more vulnerable to dying.

 

Thankfully, outbreaks of cankerworms can be controlled. Find out more​ about these pests and what you can do to protect Durham's trees.

 

Trees Across Durham is holding several workshops for the public to learn more about cankerworms and to help band trees. Regis​ter for a workshop​​.

 

Basic cankerworm information/how to band:

• September 9, 7 p.m. - 8 p.m. at Duke Gardens
• September 17, 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. at 721 Foster St.
• September 22, 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. at Duke Gardens 

Banding sessions:

• October 15 (time and location TBD) 
• October 25 (time and location TBD)

Gluing sessions:

• November 12 (time and location TBD)
• November 15 (time and location TBD)

Recent article about cankerworms:

Lack of Plant Diversity Spurs Cankerworm Damage in Cities​