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Fall Webworms Threaten Trees in North China
Fall webworms, a United States indigenous pest, are on a rampage in north China's port city of Tianjin.
The hot, dry weather has created prime conditions for the reproduction of the plant-eating white moth with black-spotted wings.
"If we lose the first battle against the first generation of fall webworms by the end of this month, we will lose everything," said Chen Jingang, an official with the municipal gardening administration.
The first case of fall webworms in Tianjin was reported in 1995. The worm has not yet met its natural enemies in the Chinese city where it has lived for so short a time. Some bird species will not touch the worm, which has been found mainly inhabiting the Chinese ash, and trees in the city's residential quarters.
The fall webworm is listed as one of the world's six most dangerous pests. Each worm can lay up to 10,000 eggs. Though it has only a one-month life span, the worm can eat its way through an abundance of tree leaves, grass, and other plants.
Tianjin is now trying to kill the webworm eggs with pesticides and other chemicals.
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