Cankerworms hatch across North Carolina
The much-appreciated warm weather and pretty blooms of spring also bring out pesky cankerworms across North Carolina.
Cankerworms, the green worms that sway from trees on silk strands and drop on cars and unsuspecting joggers, are inching their way onto trees to munch on tender spring leaves.
The worms do not usually kill trees. But if trees lose too many leaves, they can weaken and succumb to other stresses like age, drought, other insects and disease.
Charlotte has seen an increase in the worms for decades, according to North Carolina State University's NC Cooperative Extension Service. Some believe the many willow oak trees across the city encourage the worm outbreak.
To combat the infestation, the city put sticky bands around trees in November to trap female moths and prevent them from climbing the trees and laying their eggs.
