Remembrance Day – Monday, November 11. View holiday hours for City of Winnipeg facilities and services.

Remembrance Day – Monday, November 11. View holiday hours for City of Winnipeg facilities and services.

Tree Pest Caterpillar Control Program underway

Program aimed at reducing defoliation and supporting tree health

June 11, 2020

With recent dry and warm weather, tree pest caterpillars are beginning to feed on leaves in areas of the city with a high density of elm trees. To combat this infestation, the City’s Insect Control Branch crews are working to protect the affected tree canopy.

“The Tree Pest Caterpillar Control Program typically starts in mid-May and works to reduce populations of spring and fall cankerworms and other species of pest caterpillars,” said Ken Nawolsky, Superintendent of Insect Control.

Nawolsky said the City uses a biological insecticide approved by the Pest Management Regulatory Agency which won’t harm other living things like birds and other insects, and operations will continue in affected areas for about a month.

“Weather permitting, crews work day and night and use slow moving trailer mounted high pressure sprayers to target areas with the potential for significant defoliation,” he said. “Residents are asked to please park their vehicles in an off-street parking location when their street is scheduled for treatment.”

This season’s program will be treating City boulevards and focusing on City parks and cemeteries where tree pest caterpillar species are defoliating trees. 

If left unchecked, a large population of tree pest caterpillars can completely defoliate a tree, and infested trees are distinguished by the appearance of holes in the leaves. The trees will survive, but it will take about three weeks for them to re-leaf.  


Animals and Insects Homeowner, Renter and Business Information Parks, Trees and the Environment

Was this information helpful?

How can we make this web page better?

Information collected will be used to improve our website. Do not use this form to submit a request for service or information because it will not be forwarded to departments for response. To submit a request for service or information, contact 311.

This form is not intended to collect personal information; however, any personal information you choose to include in your comments is collected by the City of Winnipeg under the authority of section 36(1)(b) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act for the purpose of improving our website and will not be used or disclosed for any other purposes, except as authorized by law. Contact the Corporate Access and Privacy Officer by mail (City Clerk’s Department, Susan A. Thompson Building, 510 Main Street, Winnipeg MB, R3B 1B9) or by telephone (311) if you have any questions about the collection of this information.

Ces renseignements sont-ils utiles?

Comment pourrait-on améliorer cette page Web?

Les renseignements recueillis serviront à l’amélioration de notre site Web. Prière de ne pas se servir de ce formulaire pour soumettre une demande de service ou de renseignements, car la demande ne sera pas transmise au service en question. Pour soumettre une demande de service ou de renseignements, veuillez communiquer avec le 311.

Le présent formulaire ne vise pas à recueillir des renseignements personnels. Cependant, les renseignements personnels que vous choisissez d’inclure dans vos commentaires sont recueillis par la Ville de Winnipeg en conformité avec l’alinéa 36(1)b) de la Loi sur l’accès à l’information et la protection de la vie privée dans le but d’améliorer son site Web et ne seront ni utilisés ni divulgués pour d’autres raisons, sauf dans les cas où cela est autorisé par la loi. Communiquez avec l’agent de l’accès à l’information et de la protection de la vie privée de la Ville par courrier au Bureau du greffier, immeuble Susan-A.-Thompson, 510, rue Main, Winnipeg (Manitoba) R3B 1B9, ou par téléphone au 311 si vous avez des questions sur la collecte de ces renseignements.