What is an effective control measure for eastern tent caterpillars?

What is an effective control measure for eastern tent caterpillars?

• A. Remove their tents.
• B. Apply soil drenches.
• C. Use systemic trunk injection.
• D. Use broad-spectrum insecticides.

Answer: (A)

Removing their tents is most effective because eastern tent caterpillars cluster inside silk tents on tree branches. By physically removing and destroying those tents, you directly kill many larvae and eggs, disrupt their shelter, and greatly reduce feeding on the tree with no chemical input. This approach is swift, inexpensive, and selective, helping preserve beneficial insects. Other methods don’t fit as well here: soil drenches target underground pests and won’t affect caterpillars feeding in the canopy; a systemic trunk injection delivers pesticide through the tree and isn’t well suited to reaching caterpillars inside tents, plus it can have broader environmental effects; broad-spectrum insecticides can harm non-target organisms and may not effectively reach the caterpillars sheltered in the tents.

Removing their tents is most effective because eastern tent caterpillars cluster inside silk tents on tree branches. By physically removing and destroying those tents, you directly kill many larvae and eggs, disrupt their shelter, and greatly reduce feeding on the tree with no chemical input. This approach is swift, inexpensive, and selective, helping preserve beneficial insects.

Other methods don’t fit as well here: soil drenches target underground pests and won’t affect caterpillars feeding in the canopy; a systemic trunk injection delivers pesticide through the tree and isn’t well suited to reaching caterpillars inside tents, plus it can have broader environmental effects; broad-spectrum insecticides can harm non-target organisms and may not effectively reach the caterpillars sheltered in the tents.