Getting Rid of Hard to Reach Tent Worms

Hard to reach tent worms are those kinds of tent worms that love the high parts of the trees. Usually thise kind of tent worms will be a minimum of fifteen feet off of the ground, and often can be as high as thirty. Many times gardeners think that it will be particularly difficult to get rid of hard to reach tent worms. They couldn't be more wrong since getting rid of hard to reach tent worms is actually just as easy a task to accomplish as it is to get rid of their lower hanging relatives. Often all you will have to do is use many of the same, or similar methods that you would to get rid of the lower hanging variety of tent worms. However, you will have to use those methods a little more creatively.

• Natural pesticide. One of the most effective types of natural pesticides currently on the market is called BT (for Bacillus thuringiensis) and is actually a microbe that can help kill of many kinds of caterpillars, worms and moth larvae. Just as you would with the lower hanging types of tent worms, you simply spray this on the afflicted area, and wait. Over time the worms will die off, and drop down to the ground. The best way to get the pesticide onto the afflicted area is through a pressurized system, t if necessary, you can get up on a ladder and spray it that way.
• Birds! Birds absolutely love these pests, so another great way to get rid of tent worms (even the high or hard to reach ones) is by attracting more birds to your yard. While you can always have a bird house near the base of the tree, if you have one hanging a little higher and nearer to the infestation you will be increasing the possibility that the birds will see the worms and react. There is another added bonus to having your birdhouse higher up as well—the local cats cannot get a hold of the birds as easily!
• Get rid of them yourself. One of the best ways to ensure that you get rid of any infestation of tent worms is to knock them out of the tree yourself. Since the caterpillars won't hurt you, you can simply get up on an ladder, or use a telescoping pole, and knock down the worm nests. Personally I would suggest that you cover up a bit so that you don't get creepy crawlies all over you.
• Traps. There are sticky traps that you can use to help get rid of these pests. Instead of installing the tape or trap only near the base of the tree, have some a bit further up as well. This way, for whatever reason, the tent worms are able to work their way past the initial set of traps they run the risk of getting caught in the second set.