The best way to deal with this and I believe they will be "tent
caterpillars' is if you have a blower, blow them out of the trees without
using chemicals. Obviously you will have to do this a few times but this is
the safest way to go and not hurt the birds that otherwise, would pick up
pesticide infested grubs.
I have many of the same problems with my customers at this time of year,
many spraying companies will use a systemic insecticide for which is no good
for the fruit of the tree or the environment.
If you can not get hold of a blower, using a hose will help but obviously,
this would take longer and can create a wee bit of damage to the foliage of
the trees.

Martyn

Martyn Stewart
Bird and Animal Sounds Digitally Recorded at:
http://www.naturesound.org
N47.65543 W121.98428
Redmond. Washington. USA
Make every Garden a wildlife Habitat!

The Spring is cum
The grass is riz
I wonder where the birdies is?

The birdies on the wing!
Nah, that's absoid
D' wing is on d' boid!
..........................

-----Original Message-----
From: TWEETERS-owner at u.washington.edu
[mailto:TWEETERS-owner at u.washington.edu] On Behalf Of MaryK
Sent: Tuesday, April 13, 2004 1:58 PM
To: Tweeters
Subject: TWEETERS: Trees, Caterpillars, and Birds

In my yard are four fruit trees (apple, I think). Unfortunately all four of
them are caterpillar-infested. Some friends have said I need to deal w/the
caterpillars, they'll eat all the leaves/injure or kill the tree. I was
going to ignore them, thinking they'd be good food for the birds. Any
advice appreciated, am in a quandary.

Thanks in advance,
Mary

PS - No idea what kind of caterpillars they are; am assuming tent, but don't
really know.

Mary Klein
Bremerton WA
CelloBird at seanet.com