What Is Bagworm and Webworm Control?

Bagworm and webworm control is the professional treatment of two common Oklahoma tree pests that defoliate and damage ornamental trees, evergreens, and shade trees throughout the OKC metro. These are two different pests that damage trees in different ways, but both require timely treatment to prevent serious and sometimes permanent tree damage.

Bagworms (Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis) are moth larvae that build spindle-shaped bags from silk and plant material. They attach these bags to branches and feed on foliage while hiding inside their protective cases. Bagworms target evergreens (eastern red cedar, arborvitae, juniper, cypress) and can completely defoliate and kill a tree in a single season. Deciduous trees can also be attacked but typically survive because they regrow leaves.

Fall webworms (Hyphantria cunea) are moth larvae that build conspicuous white silk webs (tents) at the branch tips of deciduous trees. Pecan, walnut, sweetgum, persimmon, and elm are their most common Oklahoma hosts. Webworm tents are unsightly and the larvae eat leaves inside the web, but fall webworms rarely kill mature trees because defoliation occurs late in the growing season when trees are already preparing for dormancy.

Both pests are treatable, but timing is critical, especially for bagworms. Alpha Pest Solutions treats both pests using targeted application methods that protect your trees while minimizing environmental impact.

Signs You Need Bagworm or Webworm Control

• Small spindle-shaped bags (1 to 2 inches long) hanging from evergreen branches, often mistaken for pine cones (bagworms)
• Progressive defoliation (browning) of evergreen trees, starting at the top and moving downward (bagworms)
• White silk webs (tents) enclosing branch tips of deciduous trees, especially pecans and walnuts (webworms)
• Caterpillars visible inside the web tents, feeding on enclosed leaves (webworms)
• Brown, defoliated evergreens that appear to be dying (advanced bagworm damage)
• Multiple trees on your property showing bag or web activity (both pests spread to adjacent trees)
• Previous year’s empty bags still hanging on branches (indicates an established population that will return)

Our Process

1. Inspection and identification. We inspect your trees to identify which pest is present, assess the severity of the infestation, and determine the best treatment timing. Bagworms and webworms require different treatment windows for maximum effectiveness.
2. Treatment timing assessment. For bagworms, treatment is most effective when larvae are small (late May through mid-June in Oklahoma). Once bags exceed 1 inch and larvae are mature, treatment effectiveness drops significantly. For webworms, treatment is effective throughout the active season (July through September).
3. Targeted spray application. We apply insecticide directly to infested trees using professional spray equipment that reaches full canopy height. Products are applied to foliage where larvae feed, ensuring contact and ingestion.
4. Hand removal (bagworms, when practical). For small infestations or individual high-value ornamental trees, we hand-pick bags from branches. Each bag can contain up to 1,000 eggs, so removing bags before spring hatch prevents the next generation.
5. Coverage of adjacent trees. Both pests spread by wind and by crawling between trees. We inspect and treat adjacent trees that may have early-stage infestations not yet visible to the homeowner.
6. Follow-up. We return to verify treatment effectiveness and check for any surviving larvae or new activity. A second application may be needed for severe bagworm infestations if egg hatch is staggered.

Treatment Options and Plans

One-time bagworm treatment. Targeted spray application to infested trees. Best timed for late May through June when larvae are small and most vulnerable. Includes inspection, treatment, and follow-up.

One-time webworm treatment. Targeted spray application to trees with active web tents. Effective throughout the webworm season (July through September). Includes inspection, treatment, and follow-up.

Combined bagworm and webworm program. Two treatments per season: one in late May through June for bagworms and one in July through August for webworms. Best for properties with both evergreen and deciduous trees susceptible to these pests.

Preventive application. Annual treatment in late May applied to susceptible trees before visible damage occurs. Recommended for properties with a history of bagworm problems, especially those with arborvitae, eastern red cedar, or juniper landscaping.

What to Expect After Treatment

Bagworms: After treatment, larvae inside bags stop feeding within 24 to 48 hours. The bags will remain attached to branches even after the larvae die. Empty bags can be left in place or hand-removed for aesthetics. Defoliated evergreen branches that are brown and bare will not regrow foliage on those specific branches. New growth will emerge from lower and interior portions of the tree if the tree survived.

Webworms: Larvae inside treated webs die within 24 to 48 hours. The webs themselves remain on the tree until weather breaks them down or they are manually removed. Defoliated branches will regrow leaves the following spring. Fall webworm damage rarely kills trees because it occurs late in the season.

Tree recovery: Evergreens (cedar, arborvitae, juniper) that have lost more than 80% of their foliage from bagworms may not recover. Early treatment is critical to save the tree. Deciduous trees almost always recover from webworm damage because they regrow leaves the following spring. Heavy fertilization and adequate watering support tree recovery.

Is Bagworm and Webworm Control Safe for Family and Pets?

Yes. We apply treatment directly to tree foliage, not to ground surfaces where family and pets spend time. Products are applied using professional spray equipment and settle on leaves and branches where larvae feed.

We use products labeled for residential tree treatment that are safe when applied according to directions. Once the spray has dried on foliage (typically 1 to 2 hours), there is no hazard from being near treated trees.

If you have fruit trees near treated ornamentals, beehives on the property, or fish ponds, let us know and we will take appropriate precautions to protect non-target areas.

Why Choose Alpha Pest Solutions?

Timing expertise. Bagworm treatment timing is the single most important factor in success. Treating too early (before hatch) or too late (after bags are large) dramatically reduces effectiveness. We time our treatments to the larval development stage in the OKC metro, not to an arbitrary calendar date.

Correct identification. Bagworms and webworms are different pests with different treatment approaches and timing. We confirm which pest is present and apply the right treatment at the right time. We also identify other potential tree pests (scale insects, aphids, tree borers) that may need different attention.

Full-height spray capability. We have professional spray equipment that reaches full canopy height on mature trees. Bagworms and webworms often start at the top of the tree and work down, so reaching the upper canopy is essential for effective treatment.

Evidence-based protocol. If your trees are not actually infested, we tell you. If the infestation is minor enough that hand removal is sufficient, we recommend that instead of a full spray treatment. We do not sell services you do not need.

Small town relational feel. Big company solutions. Fast response, honest assessment, and we know Oklahoma trees.

Bagworm and Webworm Control Throughout the OKC Metro

Bagworms and webworms are found throughout the Oklahoma City metro. Severity varies by year depending on winter survival and spring weather conditions.

Bagworm hot spots: Properties with eastern red cedar, arborvitae, or juniper landscaping are most vulnerable. These trees are common across all OKC metro neighborhoods. Edmond, Nichols Hills, and The Village have extensive ornamental evergreen landscaping that supports large bagworm populations.

Webworm hot spots: Pecan trees are the most common webworm host in Oklahoma, and pecans grow throughout the metro. Norman, south OKC, and rural-fringe properties with large pecan and walnut trees see the heaviest webworm pressure.

Oklahoma City. Both pests active across the metro. Bagworms on ornamental evergreens. Webworms on pecans and elms.

Edmond and Norman. Heavy bagworm pressure on ornamental landscaping. Webworms on mature pecan and walnut trees.

Moore and Midwest City. Bagworms on eastern red cedar (common native tree). Webworms on pecans.

We serve all OKC metro cities including Yukon, Mustang, Bethany, Del City, Choctaw, Piedmont, Blanchard, Newcastle, Nichols Hills, The Village, and Warr Acres.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do bagworms look like?

Bagworm bags are spindle-shaped cases, 1 to 2 inches long, made of silk interwoven with bits of the host plant’s foliage. They hang from branches and are often mistaken for small pine cones or seed pods. The caterpillar lives inside the bag and sticks its head out to feed. Young bags are small (1/4 inch) and hard to spot. By the time bags are large and obvious, the larvae may already be mature and harder to treat.

Can bagworms kill my trees?

Yes. Bagworms can kill evergreen trees (eastern red cedar, arborvitae, juniper, cypress) in a single season if the infestation is severe and untreated. Evergreens cannot regrow defoliated branches. Once the foliage is gone from a section of the tree, it stays bare. Deciduous trees are damaged but typically survive because they regrow leaves the following spring. Early treatment is critical for evergreen survival.

When should I treat for bagworms in Oklahoma?

The optimal treatment window in the OKC metro is late May through mid-June, when larvae have hatched and are actively feeding but still small (under 1/2 inch). Treatment effectiveness drops significantly once bags exceed 1 inch because the larger bags protect the larvae from contact with the insecticide. If you missed the early window, treatment can still reduce populations but may not prevent current-season damage.

Are fall webworms dangerous to my trees?

Fall webworms rarely kill mature trees. Their defoliation occurs late in the growing season (July through September) when trees are already preparing for dormancy. The damage is primarily aesthetic. However, young or stressed trees that experience repeated heavy defoliation over multiple years can decline. Treatment is recommended when webworm tents are extensive or when they affect high-visibility trees.

Can I just pull the webworm tents off the tree?

For accessible tents on lower branches, manual removal is effective. Use a stick or pruner to break open the web and expose the larvae to predators and weather. Do not burn the webs (a common but dangerous suggestion). For tents high in the canopy, professional spray treatment is the only effective option.

Do bagworms spread to other trees?

Yes. Newly hatched bagworm larvae can travel between trees by “ballooning” on silk strands carried by wind. They also crawl between trees that have touching branches. An untreated infested tree serves as a source that spreads bagworms to nearby trees each year. Treating infested trees protects your neighboring trees.

Should I remove old bags from my trees?

Yes, if practical. Each old female bagworm bag contains up to 1,000 eggs that hatch the following spring. Hand-removing bags during winter (December through March, before spring hatch) is an effective, chemical-free way to reduce next year’s population. Drop removed bags in a bucket of soapy water to prevent larvae from reaching other trees.

Will one treatment solve the problem permanently?

One treatment eliminates the current season’s active larvae. However, eggs from untreated bags or wind-borne larvae from neighboring properties can restart the infestation next year. For properties with recurring bagworm problems, an annual preventive treatment in late May through June provides the best long-term protection.

How much does bagworm or webworm treatment cost?

Cost depends on the number and size of trees being treated. Call (405) 977-0678 for a free inspection and quote. Treatment is a fraction of the cost of replacing dead trees, especially for mature ornamental evergreens that take decades to grow.

Can I use a general pest spray for bagworms?

General-purpose insecticide sprays available at hardware stores may provide some control if applied when larvae are very small and if you can reach the full canopy height. However, these products typically have lower concentrations and shorter residual activity than professional formulations. For trees taller than 8 to 10 feet or for moderate to heavy infestations, professional treatment with high-reach spray equipment produces significantly better results.

Related Pests and Services

Related services:

• General Pest Control for comprehensive year-round pest protection
• Armyworm Control for lawn-damaging caterpillars