WAXHAW, N.C.,None — Cankerworms are invading Union County, forestry officials said. The cankerworm population has exploded there in the last few weeks.
Tom Dobbins is worried about his big oak trees and the damage the bugs could cause.
"I don't want to lose them. That tree's over 100 years old," he said.
He is one of many homeowners in Waxhaw whose trees are infested with cankerworms.
"At night and evenings, they just cover the ground, coming up and down the trees," he said.
The inch long worms destroy leaves and fruit.
"You're going to see either partially consumed leaves, or this light green vein," said David Grant, who works for the Union County Forestry Service.
He said the cankerworm population is cyclical and in the past few years, Union and Mecklenburg counties have seen larger infestations.
The worms are treated by a natural bacteria spray or banding.
"You have to attack it in the early worm stage. As that worm matures, it's tougher to treat," he said.
But Grant does not want people to worry too much. He said unless the tree is already sick, it will recover naturally.
"This is natural, the trees have natural energy, they're going to re-foliate, they're going to put leaves back on, and this is more or less a speed-bump in their growth this year," he said.
Grant said the cankerworm boom will only last about two more weeks.
In 2008, the city of Charlotte sprayed 63,000 acres of trees to combat cankerworms. It has helped what was considered one of the worst infestations in the country.
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