My parents live in rural Milford, IL (Iroquois County). They have a large evergreen tree with worms hanging from little 'homes' that look like they are made from needle of the tree. They are dry/brown, about 2-1/2" long, pointed at each end and thicker in the center. Last week, some of the worms were trying to emerge. They hang on the lower branches of the tree. They are firmly attached, needing to be cut off. Could you tell us what they are and are they harmful to the health of the tree? Thank you for any help you can offer. Bev Lehmann

This is a horticulture question, but I can tell you the answer. The worms you described are Bag Worms, named because of the sacks they make and hang in. They can be harmful to a tree because they feed off of it, robbing a tree of the nutrients it needs to grow. They can especially hurt a young tree with a big enough infestation. Ideally, the sacks should be pulled off, collected, and burned instead of just dropping them on the ground. Bagworms often spread to near by trees, so chances are even though you notice them on one tree, you will see them on others as well. Below is the information from Lawn and Garden solutions on bagworms via our urban website www.solutions.uiuc.edu/

"Bagworms feed mainly on evergreens, though they can be found on many deciduous trees and shrubs, forming a "pine cone-like" cocoon to live in. Bagworms overwinter as eggs in old "bags" that hang on trees, and hatch in June. New bagworm larva move throughout the plant and feed on leaves and needles. Bagworms pupate in the fall; males leave their bags and mate with females who stay in the bag. The female lays here eggs in the bag and dies.

"Bags" are difficult to penetrate with sprays, though easier in early spring than later in the year. Handpicking may be the best means to remove the bagworms, especially in the early spring before eggs hatch.

Control sprays should begin around the first of June as eggs hatch and form new bags. Several applications may have to be made throughout the month. Make sure to read and follow all labeled directions."

I live in central Ohio and until today didn't know what killed my beautiful evergreen tree. This is the middle of August and they are just now hatching. Ugly things! But I also noticed more hanging on my evergreen bushes which haven't dropped or hatched yet.

Thanks for the email, Nan. Are you sure your tree is dead? I had one that looked like that, especially on top, but I pulled these off and it recovered in the next growth season.

Unfortunately, it might be dead because bag worms can kill a tree if we don't get to them soon enough. Be sure to remove what you see on your other evergreens and check them from time to time to make sure you didn't miss any. It's labor intensive at first, but easier to control than other plant invasions, like Japanese Beetles for example.