White Worms in Your Trees: Grubs, Caterpillars, or Something Else?

Differentiation

• Beetle grubs: Boring holes in branches/trunk.
• Caterpillars (moth/butterfly larvae): Chewing foliage.

Control

• Small tree: Spray Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) on foliage.
• Large tree: Hard to treat; often wait for natural predators (parasitic wasps, birds) to build up when pest population peaks.

Ecological Balance

Nature self-regulates: high pest numbers attract beneficial predators.