That kind of caterpillar is this - Ask Extension
Have several around house - cocoons on garage wall. We live at ~8000' south of downtown Evergreen. Mostly Doug Firs, some Ponderosa pines and Lodgepol...
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That kind of caterpillar is this #209631
Asked August 29, 2014, 9:51 AM EDT
Have several around house - cocoons on garage wall. We live at ~8000' south of downtown Evergreen. Mostly Doug Firs, some Ponderosa pines and Lodgepoles about 1000' away. Photos of this caterpillar taken yesterday. It looks like one is is almost done in cocoon. Thanks - I mainly want to know if these are harmful to trees
Jefferson County Colorado
Expert Response
This is a Douglas fir tussock moth. They have the potential to be harmful to some tree species.
Please see this CSU fact sheet, which provides the details on the insect, life cycle and damage it causes. There has not been an outbreak of this insect in our area for many years.
http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/insect/05542.html
So should we destroy the cocoons or is that pointless?
Thanks so much for replying!
Thanks so much for replying!
You could destroy the cocoons you find as that would interrupt the life cycle for those developing insects.
