Hi, There are small green worms picking on my maples. They are targeting the new shoots with what should have multiple leaves. They use the young leaves as their some type of cocoon wrapping it on one bundle while snacking on the nearby already open leaves. I was also attacked by aphids and my Bayer spray took care of them but these little green caterpillar like worms are using the young shoots as shields from the spray and are still taking on new shoots. Is there a systemic method to kill these buggers? For now I am opening up their homes one by one which are the new shoots of my maples, and squishing them one by one.
These sound like Winter moth caterpillars. I have been spraying weekly with Spinosad. In the future a dormant oil spraying can help. Luckily, in my area, this phase of the cycle will end in early June and they'll be gone. http://www.umassgreeninfo.org/fact_sheets/defoliators/winter_moth.pdf
Yes, from the pics of winter moths on the net, these are exactly what they are. Thanks. still don't know how to murder them systematically though.
