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Oakworms leave many oak trees on Central Coast looking dead
Posted: Sep 5, 2012 5:55 PM by Connie Tran, KSBY News
Updated: Sep 6, 2012 4:41 AM
That crunching sound of oak leaves across the Central Coast isn't necessarily an indication of autumn, it's a potential invasion of oakworms.
On Wednesday, the Arroyo Grande branch of the University of California Master Gardener Program said they have been receiving at least 10 calls a day from residents concerned about their oak trees because oakworms have been chewing down the leaves. It has since left oak trees looking dead and barron. The San Luis Obispo branch said they've been receiving phone calls from residents in San Luis Obispo, Templeton and Paso Robles as well.
But, the Master Gardener said the trees are not dead. Megan Vogler, a sales associate with Cherry Lane Nursery, said a healthy oak tree can withstand oakworms because it's a part of Mother Nature. She also said it's the only way for an oakworm to complete it's life cycle.
"Because we live in this moderate climate here on the Central Coast, you have more generations per year. If you were in Northern California you would not have nearly as many, but because our season is so long here, you know you have the caterpillars and then they go in their pupil stage, and then they come out as the moths, and then those lay eggs, and so you're just gonna have multiple cycles this year," said Vogler.
Vogler said it's the third cycle this year, that is why it seems like the trees are especially empty. She said once the cold weather comes, the oakworms will die off. But, she said, expect them back in the spring.
The Master Gardener said they don't recommend people to treat their trees, rather spray the worms off with water if need be.
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