A low-maintenance pet, inchworms are great for young children.Feed them leaves and let them go when they turn into moths.Knowing when and where to look for them will allow you to enjoy them for as long as possible.If you have a lot of inchworms in your garden or yard, there are a couple easy steps you can take to reduce their numbers.
Step 1: Prepare a place to live in.
Purchase a ventilated top at a pet store.You can make your own habitat with a container made of glass or plastic.The worm doesn't get out if you poke several small holes through the lid with a thin nail or similar tool.Line the bottom with wood or dirt.You can use aluminum foil, plastic wrap, or something similar as a lid since inchworms aren't that strong.If you want your inchworm to get plenty of sunlight, place it on a windowsill or near a window.
Step 2: In the spring, try to find them.
inchworms have a short lifespan.They will turn into moths at the end of summer.Look for them soon after they hatch from their eggs, so that you can spend as much time with them as possible.Eggs hatch when the weather rises to 50 degrees.They are difficult to find when they first hatch.They take about three months to grow full-sized.
Step 3: Your habitat should include leaves and stems.
Thousands of different types of inchworms eat different foods.When you find one in your area, trim some of the leaves and stem from the tree or plant that you found.If you put these in the habitat, your inchworm will have something to eat.Remember the type of tree or plant you found.If you need to keep your inchworm fed you can collect more leaves.
Step 4: You should check your inchworm daily.
Make sure it has enough food by checking the leaves and stem pieces.Once they start to rot, clean out the habitat and collect more leaves, stems, and dirt from outside.They can stay hydrated by spraying a mist of water inside.Keeping the window open will circulate fresh air in the room.If it is too cold or hot to keep your window open, open it a few times during the day.They will turn into moths eventually.They will turn into moths in a few weeks if the area is moist and light is sufficient.You should let the moths go outside when that happens.You can un seal the container where you originally found the inchworm.
Step 5: Look for signs of food.
There are lots of little holes in the leaves of trees and plants.Look for leaves that have been stripped.This shows they are in the immediate area and will help narrow down your search.During the spring, plants and trees may still be budding.You can check the buds for signs of munching, since inchworms will eat those as well.
Step 6: Search in shaded areas.
Many animals feed on inchworms, so expect them to hide.If there are any clinging to the leaves, check the underside.Check for them in midair, since they spin webs just like spiders, and may be dangling below leaves and branches.They are usually on the ground when they are ready to go underground.If you want to keep inchworms as pets, you need to know that they are ready to change into moths.
Step 7: Check areas with a lot of vegetation.
When an inchworm feeds on a leaf, it spins a web long enough for it to swing to the next plant, like a rope.They can do this more easily if they look at the leaf cover.Since each type of inchworm feeds on different types of food, look for areas with lots of the same plant or tree.Plants grow around the base of trees.It's possible that the inchworms worked their way down to them.
Step 8: Look at night too.
It is easier to spot where they are feeding in the daytime.You may find them right away, because some inchworms feed during the day.Double-check after dark if this is a nocturnal type.
Step 9: Look for signs of damage.
Since inchworms are small and may stay out of sight, be aware of other telltale signs.There are small holes in the leaves of trees, bushes, and garden plants.The more you see, the more likely you are to have a large population of inchworms.elm, fir, hickory, maple, oak, and pine trees are popular targets for inchworms.They can be found in fruit trees and berry bushes.
Step 10: Do you think it is a problem?
Do you think it's worth the effort to solve it?Consider where you found the evidence of inchworms.If you only find sporadic leaves that seem to be eaten, the population is probably small.The trees may offer enough food to support the population if the leaves are confined to the trees.Smaller plant life, like garden plants and bushes, are more at risk since they offer less material for the inchworms to eat.
Step 11: Let the predator do the work.
Encourage their presence by the large number of small animals that feed on inchworms.Birds are the easiest to attract and so hang bird houses and feeders around the affected area.inchworms are prey to lizards and yellow jackets.
Step 12: Pest control should be done in the affected area.
If you want to deal with inchworms, spray the leaves or worms directly with insecticides.Use a non-toxic remedy if you are worried about toxins.You can find a natural pathogen, like bacillus thuringiensis, online or in garden stores.It is an ideal solution for gardens, fruit trees, berry bushes, or other crops because it only affects insects.The area should be treated again next spring to eliminate any eggs that may have been fertilized.Different types of inchworm hatch in the spring.