Something that really foils tent caterpillars

[upnorthlady2]

Here's an invention my "redneck genius" husband came up with to foil tent caterpillars that were eating our apple tree. It really works! He took a plastic gallon jug, like for milk or water, and cut the bottom part off, and then split the jug and punched holes in the sides (like shoelace holes). He wrapped a piece of 1/2 inch foam around the tree and fastened it tight with wire and left long ends to thread through the jug lace holes. He fitted it real tight up against the tree (but foam will give a little so the tree can still grow). Then he used PL400 to seal everything up. Before we put the jug thing on, we sprayed a strong jet stream of water to wash off as many worms as we could. Had to do this a couple times. The caterpillars cannot seem to figure out how to get past the rounded trap of the jug, and crawl down and around and back up. They fall to the ground. They keep climbing up the trunk, but never make it past the jug part. May look funny - but it sure does the trick! And no pesticides. We have honey bees and can't use any chemicals or pesticides. This is a good organic thing.

[Cyngbaeld]

That's pretty cool, Patty!

[BigM]

WTG Harold!! Redneck ingenuity is hard to beat!

[joanfromzone6]

i'll bet they simply lose traction when they try to get out on the slick plastic surface of the jug and then gravity rules -

if it could be mounted five or six feet above ground level and if there was some way to make the cut seam in the jug perfectly smooth and slick, i'd bet it would also deter squirrels - maybe adhesive teflon tape would work ?

sad to say, i've found that chickens have little desire to eat tent caterpillars -

[Valerie]

That's pretty nifty! I love things like that!