First, an inchworm is not actually a worm – it is a caterpillar, the larva of a moth. Alternatively called measuring worms, cankerworms, spanworms, and loopers, inchworms generally measure between one centimeter and one inch (an inchworm is quite literally an inch worm). They come in many different colors – ranging from pale and reddish greens to brown and black hues – and they have stripes that run down their sides and back. Often, their heads are a pale green color and are covered with black spots. Inchworms are hairless and smooth, and several species have patterns on their bodies that help them mimic plants. With this information, you should be able to spot inchworms, which are abundantly present in North America.

As we mentioned above, inchworms can cause considerable damage to trees and plants. However, before moving on, it is worth mentioning that a small, controlled number of inchworms are not necessarily harmful, so if you see an inchworm in your garden, you needn’t immediately panic. That said, inchworms are a nuisance in large numbers, and this is easy enough to see when you look at an infested plant, which will have small holes between its veins thanks to the inchworms relentless feeding. And that is exactly what you must keep in mind when evaluating an inchworm threat: they damage vegetation by consuming it, so it is no surprise that a few inchworms is nothing to be too concerned about, while a large number is something that needs to be addressed.

An inchworm infestation left unchecked can become a serious problem because female moths (i.e., the mothers of inchworms) lay eggs in the fall and spring. Populations of inch worms can skyrocket quickly. But the question remains: how do you control an inchworm infestation?

First, there are preventative measures one can take to protect against an infestation, and one of the main ways involves fighting nature with nature. Inchworms have a number of natural predators, so if you allow these creatures – insects like yellow jackets, wasps, and ground beetles, as well as animals like birds – to flourish in your garden, yard, or crop field, they can keep the inchworm population in check. There are also natural diseases, like wilt disease, that afflict inch worms, and these help control inchworms too.

If these natural lines of defense fail you and you are stuck with an infestation, you may have to turn to other remedies, which are beyond the scope of this article.

It should first be noted that many different worms live in trees and other plants, and not all of them are harmful to the vegetation on which they dwell. For example, Catawba worms are often found on catalpa trees, and even though they can defoliate these trees three times in a single summer, there does not appear to be any major damage done to the tree. Even so, many people grow catalpa trees to use its excellent wood for fine wood creations, and if the trees are grown for this purpose, a Catawba-worm infestation might lead to problems. On the other hand, Catawba worms make excellent fish bate, so some people plant catalpa trees specifically to attract Catawba worms.

All of this talk about Catawba worms serves only to make a general point: trees are a natural habitat for many different types of worms, and their presence on your trees can be viewed as good or bad depending on the ends that you seek. This applies to our reader’s red worms as much as it applies to any other tree worms you may find.

Anyway, what are those red worms? As always, it’s impossible to tell without directly observing them, but these worms sound like fall webworms, which are actually small caterpillars that will eventually grow into white moths that go by the scientific name Hyphantria cunea. Fall webworms create webs on the branches and foliage of trees near the end of the summer or at the start of the fall. They are native to North America and can be found from Mexico to Canada.

Webworms fall off trees into the foliage at its base as winter approaches to pupate during the cold months of the year. (Some also burrow into the tree bark.) In the spring, the white adult moths surface and lay eggs on the underside of leaves. After a few days, the eggs hatch. The larvae that emerge are the red worms that our reader is referring to in his question, assuming he is in fact dealing with webworms. It’s worth mentioning that webworms are not a uniform color – indeed, their coloration varies widely – but they can be red.

The good thing about webworms is that they will not harm trees, at least as long as the trees are healthy, so they aren’t necessary to get rid of if you don’t have the time or inclination to do so. They can affect the appearance of a tree by causing them to defoliate, although the leaves will grow back during the spring.

If you are really worried about the late-summer/early-fall appearance of your tree, there are a few ways to get rid of them. The webs that webworms create can be broken through (with, for example, a rake), thus allowing natural predators to get at the caterpillars, and you can also eliminate some by pruning the ends of branches.

Worms need a moist environment for survival, and they must also remain close to their food supply. Worms eat leaves and dead grass, which contain organisms that provide a healthy diet of bacteria, algae, and fungi. Worms feast on dirt as well, especially if they live deeper inside the earth. Worms also eat plants, fruits, and vegetables. The worm’s moist and sustenance rich environment plays an extremely important role in reproduction as well. Worms prefer to mate and reproduce in warm moist soil, away from the light.

Earthworms can be found in just about every corner of the earth. They live in trees, in bark, and under rocks as well as along rivers, near springs, and in ponds. Their favorite place to live, however, is burrowed inside the earth’s rich soil. During the winter months they burrow deep within the earth until the surface warms again during the spring. During the warm summer months, worms stay closer to the tops of soil where they create tunnels to wiggle in and out of. This allows air to get to the plant roots.

Without the worm’s tunneling action, called “aeration,” the earth’s trees, plants, fruits, and vegetables would not survive. In addition to aerating the soil, which keeps plants alive, worms also eat organic matter, digest it, and excrete the digested material. Worms eat so much that they typically produce digested material equal to their own weight every 24 hours. This digested material is called castings. The castings are rich with much needed phosphorus, calcium, and potassium.

Earthworms belong to one of several different types of ecological groups. There are three broad ecological groups that have been identified for earthworms including epigeic, endogeic, and anecic. The groups are based on what the earthworms eat and where they tend to live in the soil. The epigeic group is a litter feeder and dweller, pigmented, small in size, and it doesn’t burrow. The endogeic group consists of rich soil feeders, topsoil dwellers, has no pigmentation, burrows horizontally, and it is small in size. The anecic consists of litter and soil feeders, soil dwellers, dorsally pigmented bodies, extensive vertical burrows, and a large size. Size and color are usually good distinguishers for adult earthworms.

The clitellum of adult earthworms contains features called genital tumescence, and tubercula pubertatis. The clitellum features, the male pores, and female pores are found above the clitellum and are all parts of the earthworm reproductive system. The earthworm has “setae” which are tiny hair-like projections that are arranged in rows along the earthworm body. The setae are used for locomotion by the earthworm.

Worms have no lungs, so they breathe through their skin. This means that the worm’s environment and skin must be moist at all times. This allows the worm to breathe in oxygen. If the worm’s skin dries out, the worm will die from suffocation. While worms need moisture to survive, too much moisture can be fatal. If too much water is present, it takes the place of oxygen, which will cause the worms to flee to the surface. Once on the surface, worms will be exposed to sunlight. If worms remain in the sunlight for too long, they can become paralyzed.

Although you cannot see them, believe it or not, worms do have mouths. The earthworm mouth is called the prostomium. The worm’s mouth is actually big enough and powerful enough to grab a leaf and drag it around. They also have a pharynx, esophagus, crop, gizzard and intestine. When the worm eats its food, it pulls the materials into its mouth with the help of the pharynx and its prostomium (also called acron). This creates a suction motion. This suction motion aids in helping the worm consume large amounts of food in a sort amount of time. The gizzard grinds the food.

About Inchworms

An inchworm is the larvae of moths, of the family Geometridae (phylum Arthropoda, class Insecta, order Lepidoptera). This large, widely diffused group has more than 1,200 species indigenous to North America. Some inchworms (also “inch worm”) are considered average while others are considered extraordinary. Inch worms do, however, have many common characteristics. They have smooth, hairless bodies, and they typically grow up to one inch in length. Their colors run the gamut from brown and black to bright green.

Also referred to as loopers, measuring worms, and spanworms, inchworms have three pairs of legs at the front end and two to three pairs of prolegs or larval abdominal appendages at the rear. Inchworms travel by drawing their hind end forward while gripping the earth with its prolegs. They have the ability to stand erect and motionless when poked or prodded in any way.

Much like spiders, some inch worms have the ability produce thin delicate lines. In some cases, these thin lines are made of silk. It just so happens that one of the most destructive types of inchworms, called cankerworms, produces soft silk threads as they drop from trees to evade predators. Also called measuring worms, cankerworms vary in color, but their bodies consist of long horizontal stripes. Cankerworms feed on shrub foliage and tree foliage. These creatures like to hang out in apples, elms, oaks, lindens, sweetgums, and a wide variety of other shade and fruit trees.

Another type of inch worm, also called Looper and Cabbage Looper, overwinters as green to brown pupae tightly wrapped in cocoons (not webs) of white thread. In the spring, the adult moth emerges. The adult lays its eggs, typically on the surface of leaves. Once the larvae emerge, they feed for two to four weeks. Once they’ve had their fill, the larvae spin cocoons similar to the ones used during the overwinter process. The larvae prefer vegetable gardens and they eat a variety of crops including: celery, cabbage, cauliflower, radishes, Brussels sprouts, beans, parsley, broccoli, potatoes, tomatoes, and peas.

Unfortunately, larvae eating habits cause massive destruction to food crop foliage. Simply put, larvae will eat as many holes as they can in the leaves of all kinds. Fortunately, there are several ways to control larvae/inchworm infestations. Trichogramma wasps are natural predators as well as birds, yellow jackets and paper wasps. They are also controlled by natural diseases and parasites. Wilt disease causes the worms body to rot. This usually happens late in the season. “Bacillus thuringiensis,” a wilt pathogen, is available to gardeners to help control infestations.

The Lamaze Musical Worm product features include:

-Color variations such as the yellow faced multicolored Inchworm or orange faced multi-colored Inchworm
-Plush soft body makes it perfect for napping and playing
-Recommended for babies from birth on
-Soft velour body
-Stimulating crinkles, squeaks, jingles, and rattles
-Unique textures to chew and touch
-When hugged, plays the song “If You’re Happy and You Know It Clap Your Hands”

The Lamaze Musical Inchworm was created by Learning Curve. According to the Learning Curve website, the company:

Offers developmental toys that engage children, and provide parents with peace of mind, knowing their children are being inspired and enlightened by safe and quality playthings. And our care, safety, feeding and soothing products provide you with solutions to day-to-day needs at mealtime, bedtime, at home and on-the-go..

We offer a wide range of age-specific brands to choose from, including: The First Years®, Lamaze®, John Deere Kids™, Thomas & Friends™ and Bob the Builder, to name a few. And all toys are thoroughly researched to nurture young minds in a wholesome, non-violent environment. Learning Curve products are designed under the direction of educators, child development authorities, parents like you and children like yours..

Our goal is simple, yet of utmost importance: Learning Curve is strongly committed to providing classic, high-quality toys that encourage your child’s imagination, pique their never-ending curiosity, appeal to their strong sense of adventure and enrich their playtime experience.

Learning Curve also sells other musical Lamaze toys such as a sea carousel, elephant tunes, elephantunes, octotunes, and a chime garden. Lamaze Musical Inchworm, and all Lamaze toys feature a 90 day limited warranty. Theses toys can be purchased for $17.99 online through the official Learning Curve website at
www.learningcurve.com or at stores such as Kohl’s, Target, and Babies R Us. A number of independent toy stores also carry Learning Curve products, so visit the Learning Curve website to locate an independent retail shop in your area.

Online Retailers

AlbeeBaby.com
Amazon.com
Babies R Us.com
Buy Buy Baby.com
Diapers.com
Drugstore.com
DueMaternity.com
FreeBears.com
Genius Babies.com
Goores for Babies to Teens.com
Happy Hen Toys.com
Kohl’s.com
LearningCurve Shop.com
My Hobby Place and Toys.com
My Toy Box.com
One Step Ahead.com
Sensational Beginnings.com
Target.com
Thanks Mama.com
Toys & Co.com

Learning Curve Corporate Contact

Learning Curve is owned by RC2 Corporation, which has offices in Dyersville, Iowa; Canton, Massachusetts, and Logan, Utah. The company headquarters is located in Oak Brook, Illinois. International offices are located in Victoria, Australia; Dongguan, China; Koln Germany; Kowloon Bay, Hong Kong, and Exeter, United Kingdom.

RC2 Corporation
1111 W. 22nd Street
Suite 320
Oak Brook, IL 60523
Phone: 630.573.7200
Fax: 630.573.7575
Toll-free Customer Service: 800-704-8697
Monday – Friday, 8:00 a m – 5:00 p m CST

Cankerworms are also called “measuring worms.” They vary in color, but their bodies consist of long horizontal stripes. Cankerworms feed on shrub foliage and tree foliage. These creatures like to hang out in apples, elms, oaks, lindens, sweetgums, and a wide variety of other shade and fruit trees.

So what exactly is an inchworm? An inchworm is the larvae of moths of the family Geometridae (phylum Arthropoda, class Insecta, order Lepidoptera). This large, widely diffused group has more than 1,200 species indigenous to North America. Some inchworms (also “inchworm”) are considered average while others are considered extraordinary. Inchworms do, however, have many common characteristics. They have smooth, hairless bodies, and they typically grow up to one inch in length. Their colors run the gamut from brown and black to bright green.

Also referred to as loopers, measuring worms, and spanworms, inchworms have three pairs of legs at the front end and two to three pairs of prolegs or larval abdominal appendages at the rear. Inchworms travel by drawing their hind end forward while gripping the earth with its prolegs. They have the ability to stand erect and motionless when poked or prodded in any way.

Another type of inchworm, also called looper or cabbage looper, overwinters as green to brown pupae, tightly wrapped in cocoons (not webs) of white thread. In the spring, the adult moth emerges. The adult lays its eggs, typically on the surface of leaves. Once the larvae emerge, they feed for two to four weeks. Once they’ve had their fill, the larvae spin cocoons similar to the ones used during the overwinter process. The larvae prefer vegetable gardens and they eat a variety of crops including celery, cabbage, cauliflower, radishes, Brussels sprouts, beans, parsley, broccoli, potatoes, tomatoes, and peas.

Fortunately, there are several ways to protect your garden or crops from inchworms. Trichogramma wasps are natural predators as well as birds, yellow jackets, and paper wasps. They are also controlled by natural diseases and parasites. Wilt disease causes the worms body to rot. This usually happens late in the season. “Bacillus thuringiensis,” a wilt pathogen, is available to gardeners and farmer’s to help control infestations.

Some of the most common types of green worms feed on green vegetables such as broccoli and cabbage. Cabbage worms, cabbage loopers, and diamondback worms are all green in color, but the hues vary in richness. The cabbage worm is bright green. It is the larvae of the white butterfly. Cabbage loopers are light green and they are the larvae of the brown moth. Diamondback worms are pale green and they are the larvae of the unique gray moth. The gray moth has a diamond shape on its back.

Broccoli worms do not feed on broccoli alone. They feed on Brussels sprouts, kale, cabbage, and cauliflower. Unfortunately, these worms cause serious damage to plants and crops. In the case of the cabbage worm, the white butterfly lays its eggs on the undersides of leaves. When the eggs hatch, they feed on plants until there is nothing left.

There are ways to prevent these types of worms such as using row covers during spring, summer, and when these pests are most prevalent; placing the heads of the plants in a nylon stocking until its ready for harvesting, or you can use sprats of insecticidal soaps. You can also prevent their numbers from increasing through early detection. Inspect your plants everyday to check for signs of brown or gray moths and white butterflies as well as the eggs, and worms.

You can get rid of green worms in your vegetables and plants by using Bacillus Thuringiensis (BT). BT is a bacterium that kills pests, but it won’t harm your plants. You can purchase BT at most plant stores, hardware stores, and garden centers.

Other Green Worms

Many green worms are not worms at all. They are caterpillars. Just a few common green worms (caterpillars) include the larvae of the polyphemus moth, the luna moth, promethea moth, green-striped mapleworm, sweetbay silkmoth, cecropia moth, hickery horned devil, and the Io moth. These insects are commonly found in northeastern parts of the U.S. Another type of green worm is the inchworm. They are either green, black, or brown. These types of worms attack crops, plants, and gardens and their eating habits can cause massive destruction to food crop foliage.

About Inchworms

Inchworms will eat as many holes as they can in leaves of all kinds. While inchworms may seem like a nuisance to farmers and gardeners alike, they are actually quite valuable to fishermen. Excellent for fishing, inchworms can be purchased online or through any fish and bait store and they can be found in environments throughout North America.

An inchworm is the larvae of moths of the family Geometridae (phylum Arthropoda, class Insecta, order Lepidoptera). This large, widely diffused group has more than 1,200 species indigenous to North America. Some inchworms are considered average while others are considered extraordinary. Inchworms do, however, have many common characteristics. They have smooth, hairless bodies, and they typically grow up to one inch in length. Their colors run the gamut from brown and black to bright green.

Also referred to as loopers, measuring worms, and spanworms, inchworms have three pairs of legs at the front end and two to three pairs of prolegs or larval abdominal appendages at the rear. Inchworms travel by drawing their hind end forward while gripping the earth with its prolegs. They have the ability to stand erect and motionless when poked or prodded in any way.

Much like spiders, some inchworms have the ability produce thin delicate lines. In some cases, these thin lines are made of silk. It just so happens that one of the most destructive types of inchworms, called cankerworms, produces soft silk threads as they drop from trees to evade predators. Also called measuring worms, cankerworms vary in color, but their bodies consist of long horizontal stripes. Cankerworms feed on shrub foliage and tree foliage. These creatures like to hang out in apples, elms, oaks, lindens, sweetgums, and a wide variety of other shade and fruit trees.

Another type of inchworm, also called Looper and Cabbage Looper, overwinters as green to brown pupae tightly wrapped in cocoons (not webs) of white thread. In the spring, the adult moth emerges. The adult lays its eggs, typically on the surface of leaves. Once the larvae emerge, they feed for two to four weeks. Once they have had their fill, the larvae spin cocoons similar to the ones used during the overwinter process. The larvae prefer vegetable gardens and they eat a variety of crops including: celery, cabbage, cauliflower, radishes, Brussels sprouts, beans, parsley, broccoli, potatoes, tomatoes, and peas.

There are several ways to control larvae/ inchworm infestations. Inchworms have natural predators, specifically Trichogramma wasps. Birds, yellow jackets and paper wasps also feast on inchworms, so allowing these types of animals and insects to roam free in your garden or around your crops should help control your inchworm population. Wilt disease causes the worms body to rot. This usually happens late in the season. Wilt disease causes the inchworms body to rot. This usually happens late in the season. Better known as Bt, bacillus thuringiensis a wilt pathogen that is available to gardeners to help control infestations. This pathogen is only toxic to insects. If you would like more information about bacillus thuringiensis or to purchase products containing bacillus thuringiensis please visit: http://www.dirtworks.net/B.T.-Insecticidal-Soap.html.

So which types of worms eat what? Cankerworms feed on shrub foliage and tree foliage. These creatures like to hang out in apples, elms, oaks, lindens, sweetgums, and a wide variety of other shade and fruit trees. The cabbage looper eats a variety of crops including: celery, cabbage, cauliflower, radishes, Brussels sprouts, beans, parsley, broccoli, potatoes, tomatoes, and peas. The cabbage looper overwinters as green to brown pupae tightly wrapped in cocoons (not webs) of white thread. In the spring, the adult moth emerges. The adult lays its eggs, typically on the surface of leaves. Once the larvae emerge, they feed for two to four weeks. Once they’ve had their fill, the larvae spin cocoons similar to the ones used during the overwinter process.

The cankerworm is probably one of the most destructive types of inchworms. Although it produces soft silk threads as they drop from trees to evade predators and their bodies are unusually beautiful (their bodies consist of long horizontal stripes), they can damage crops beyond repair. Once a cankerworm has eaten through the fruits and foliage of trees, there is little to nothing left.

Overall, the eating habits of inchworms cause massive destruction to most food crop foliage because the inchworm will eat as many holes as it can in the leaves of all kinds. Fortunately, there are several ways to control larvae/inchworm infestations. Trichogramma wasps are natural predators as well as birds, yellow jackets and paper wasps. They are also controlled by natural diseases and parasites. Wilt disease causes the worms body to rot. This usually happens late in the season. “Bacillus thuringiensis,” a wilt pathogen, is also available to gardeners and farmers to help control infestations.

About Inchworms
An inchworm is the larvae of moths of the family Geometridae (phylum Arthropoda, class Insecta, order Lepidoptera). This large, widely diffused group has more than 1,200 species indigenous to North America. Some inchworms (also “inchworm”) are considered average while others are considered extraordinary. Inchworms do, however, have many common characteristics. They have smooth, hairless bodies, and they typically grow up to one inch in length. Their colors run the gamut from brown and black to bright green. Also called loopers, measuring worms or spanworms, inchworms have three pairs of legs at the front end and two to three pairs of prolegs or larval abdominal appendages at the rear. Inchworms travel by drawing their hind end forward while gripping the earth with its prolegs. They will stand erect and motionless when poked or prodded. Much like spiders, some inchworms have the ability produce thin delicate lines. In some cases, these thin lines are made of pure silk.

Garden worms come in all shapes and sizes and they play a major role in the survival of the earth’s fruits, vegetables, trees, and plants. Garden worms, such earthworms, are one of the largest groups of worms on the planet today. There are more than 4,400 different types of worms and of these worms there are 2,700 species of earthworm. The inchworm is one of the most popular types of earthworm.

Garden worms can be found in just about every corner of the earth. They live in trees, in bark, and under rocks as well as along rivers, near springs, and in ponds. Their favorite place to live, however, is burrowed inside the earth’s rich soil. During the winter months they burrow deep within the earth until the surface warms again during the spring. During the warm summer months, worms stay closer to the tops of soil where they create tunnels to wiggle in and out of. This process aerates the soil, meaning, it allows air and water to reach plant roots. Worms also eat organic matter, digest it, and excrete the digested material. This digested material is called “castings.” The castings are rich with phosphorus, calcium, and potassium.

Worm castings are so valuable and ten times richer in nutrients that commercial topsoil, that many gardeners and farmers use the composting method to fertilize plants and crops. Worm castings also help create channels within the layers of the earth’s soil, which helps to hold water better and keep moisture in the soil longer.

About Inchworms

The inchworm is a common type of worm that can show up just about anywhere – in gardens, on farms or in plants. So, whether you’re farmer, a gardener or an inchworm enthusiast, you may have experienced an inchworm infestation before. Unfortunately, an inchworm infestation can cause a large amount of damage to your crops, plants or garden. This might lead to the purchase of poisonous chemical remedies to treat the infestation. While these remedies may have been effective, you may have concerns about the toxic nature of these chemicals. Fortunately, there are several less toxic and non-toxic ways to control inchworm infestations.

Before we discuss how to get rid of inchworms via non-toxic methods, continue reading to learn more about the inchworm and several different types that destroy crops and plants.

Types of Inchworms

An inchworm is the larvae of moths of the family Geometridae (phylum Arthropoda, class Insecta, order Lepidoptera). This large, widely diffused group has more than 1,200 species indigenous to North America. Some inchworms (also “inch worm”) are considered average while others are considered extraordinary. Inchworms do, however, have many common characteristics. They have smooth, hairless bodies, and they typically grow up to one inch in length. Their colors run the gamut from brown and black to bright green.

Also referred to as loopers, measuring worms, and spanworms, inchworms have three pairs of legs at the front end and two to three pairs of prolegs or larval abdominal appendages at the rear. Inchworms travel by drawing their hind end forward while gripping the earth with its prolegs. They have the ability to stand erect and motionless when poked or prodded in any way.

Much like spiders, some inchworms have the ability produce thin delicate lines. In some cases, these thin lines are made of silk. It just so happens that one of the most destructive types of inchworms, called cankerworms, produces soft silk threads as they drop from trees to evade predators. Also called measuring worms, cankerworms vary in color, but their bodies consist of long horizontal stripes. Cankerworms feed on shrub foliage and tree foliage. These creatures like to hang out in apples, elms, oaks, lindens, sweetgums, and a wide variety of other shade and fruit trees.

Another type of inchworm, also called Looper and Cabbage Looper, overwinters as green to brown pupae tightly wrapped in cocoons (not webs) of white thread. In the spring, the adult moth emerges. The adult lays its eggs, typically on the surface of leaves. Once the larvae emerge, they feed for two to four weeks. Once they’ve had their fill, the larvae spin cocoons similar to the ones used during the overwinter process. The larvae prefer vegetable gardens and they eat a variety of crops including: celery, cabbage, cauliflower, radishes, Brussels sprouts, beans, parsley, broccoli, potatoes, tomatoes, and peas.

How to Get Rid of Inchworms

The following information can apply to many different types of garden pests. It is important to note that BT is effective in many cases.

Inchworms have natural predators, specifically Trichogramma wasps. Birds, yellow jackets and paper wasps also feast on inch worms, so allowing these types of animals and insects to roam free in your garden or around your crops should help control your inchworm population. Natural diseases and parasites also control inchworms. Wilt disease causes the inchworms body to rot. This usually happens late in the season. Bacillus thuringiensis, a wilt pathogen, is available to gardeners to help control infestations. This pathogen is only toxic to insects. If you would like more information about bacillus thuringiensis or to purchase products containing bacillus thuringiensis please visit: http://www.dirtworks.net/B.T.-Insecticidal-Soap.html.

About Inchworms

An inchworm is the larvae of moths of the family Geometridae (phylum Arthropoda, class Insecta, order Lepidoptera). This large, widely diffused group has more than 1,200 species indigenous to North America. Some inchworms are considered average while others are considered extraordinary. Inchworms do, however, have many common characteristics. They have smooth, hairless bodies, and they typically grow up to one inch in length. Their colors run the gamut from brown and black to bright green.

Also referred to as loopers, measuring worms, and spanworms, inchworms have three pairs of legs at the front end and two to three pairs of prolegs or larval abdominal appendages at the rear. Inchworms travel by drawing their hind end forward while gripping the earth with its prolegs. They have the ability to stand erect and motionless when poked or prodded in any way.

Much like spiders, some inchworms have the ability produce thin delicate lines. In some cases, these thin lines are made of silk. It just so happens that one of the most destructive types of inchworms, called cankerworms, produces soft silk threads as they drop from trees to evade predators. Also called measuring worms, cankerworms vary in color, but their bodies consist of long horizontal stripes. Cankerworms feed on shrub foliage and tree foliage. These creatures like to hang out in apples, elms, oaks, lindens, sweetgums, and a wide variety of other shade and fruit trees.

Another type of inchworm, also called Looper and Cabbage Looper, overwinters as green to brown pupae tightly wrapped in cocoons (not webs) of white thread. In the spring, the adult moth emerges. The adult lays its eggs, typically on the surface of leaves. Once the larvae emerge, they feed for two to four weeks. Once they’ve had their fill, the larvae spin cocoons similar to the ones used during the overwinter process. The larvae prefer vegetable gardens and they eat a variety of crops including: celery, cabbage, cauliflower, radishes, Brussels sprouts, beans, parsley, broccoli, potatoes, tomatoes, and peas.

How to Control Inchworm Populations

There are several ways to control larvae/ inchworm infestations. Inchworms have natural predators, specifically Trichogramma wasps. Birds, yellow jackets and paper wasps also feast on inchworms, so allowing these types of animals and insects to roam free in your garden or around your crops should help control your inchworm population. Wilt disease causes the worms body to rot. This usually happens late in the season. Wilt disease causes the inchworms body to rot. This usually happens late in the season. Better known as Bt, bacillus thuringiensis a wilt pathogen that is available to gardeners to help control infestations. This pathogen is only toxic to insects. If you would like more information about bacillus thuringiensis or to purchase products containing bacillus thuringiensis please visit: http://www.dirtworks.net/B.T.-Insecticidal-Soap.html.

Garden worms such as earthworms can be found in just about every corner of the earth. They live in trees, in bark, and under rocks as well as along rivers, near springs, and in ponds. Their favorite place to live, however, is burrowed inside the earth’s rich soil. During the winter months they burrow deep within the earth until the surface warms again during the spring. During the warm summer months, worms stay closer to the tops of soil where they create tunnels to wiggle in and out of. These tunnels are extremely important for plant life as they create a path for water and air, which is essential for the survival of plant life.

Places like China, Australia, Greenland, and the Sahara Desert have their own indigenous species of earthworms. Besides the Sahara Desert, you won’t find large numbers of worms living in “sandy” areas, especially sandy beaches. The vast majority of worms on our planet can only survive under certain environmental conditions.

Worms have no lungs, so they breathe through their skin. This means that the worm’s environment and skin must be moist at all times. This allows the worm to breathe in oxygen. If the worm’s skin dries out, the worm will die from suffocation. While worms need moisture to survive, too much moisture can be fatal. If too much water is present, it takes the place of oxygen, which will cause the worms to flee to the surface. Once on the surface, worms will be exposed to sunlight. If worms remain in the sunlight for too long, they can become paralyzed.

In addition to needing a moist environment for survival, worms must also remain close to their food supply. Worms feed off of leaves and dead grass, which contain organisms that provide a healthy diet of bacteria, algae, and fungi. Worms feast on dirt as well, especially if they live deeper inside the earth. Worms also eat plants, fruits and vegetables.

Although you cannot see them, believe it or not, worms do have mouths. The worm’s mouth is actually big enough and powerful enough to grab a leaf and drag it around. They also have a pharynx, esophagus, crop, gizzard and intestine. When the worm eats its food, it pulls the materials into its mouth with the help of the pharynx and its prostomium (also called acron). This creates a suction motion. This suction motion aids in helping the worm consume large amounts of food in a sort amount of time. The gizzard grinds the food. Worms eat so much that they typically produce excrement equal to their own weight every 24 hours.

The worm’s moist sustenance rich environment plays an extremely important role in reproduction as well. Worms prefer to mate and reproduce in warm moist soil, away from the light.

About the Inch Worm

An inchworm is the larvae of moths of the family Geometridae (phylum Arthropoda, class Insecta, order Lepidoptera). This large, widely diffused group has more than 1,200 species indigenous to North America. Some inchworms (also “inchworm”) are considered average while others are considered extraordinary. Inchworms do, however, have many common characteristics. They have smooth, hairless bodies, and they typically grow up to one inch in length. Their colors run the gamut from brown and black to bright green.

Also referred to as loopers, measuring worms, and spanworms, inchworms have three pairs of legs at the front end and two to three pairs of prolegs or larval abdominal appendages at the rear. Inchworms travel by drawing their hind end forward while gripping the earth with its prolegs. They have the ability to stand erect and motionless when poked or prodded in any way.

Much like spiders, some inchworms have the ability produce thin delicate lines. In some cases, these thin lines are made of silk. It just so happens that one of the most destructive types of inchworms, called cankerworms, produces soft silk threads as they drop from trees to evade predators. Also called measuring worms, cankerworms vary in color, but their bodies consist of long horizontal stripes. Cankerworms feed on shrub foliage and tree foliage. These creatures like to hang out in apples, elms, oaks, lindens, sweetgums, and a wide variety of other shade and fruit trees.

Another type of inchworm, also called Looper and Cabbage Looper, overwinters as green to brown pupae tightly wrapped in cocoons (not webs) of white thread. In the spring, the adult moth emerges. The adult lays its eggs, typically on the surface of leaves. Once the larvae emerge, they feed for two to four weeks. Once they’ve had their fill, the larvae spin cocoons similar to the ones used during the overwinter process. The larvae prefer vegetable gardens and they eat a variety of crops including: celery, cabbage, cauliflower, radishes, Brussels sprouts, beans, parsley, broccoli, potatoes, tomatoes, and peas.

Unfortunately, larvae eating habits cause massive destruction to food crop foliage, by eating holes in the leaves. There are several ways to control these types of inchworm infestations. Trichogramma wasps are natural predators as well as birds, yellow jackets and paper wasps. Natural diseases and parasites also control them. “Wilt disease” causes the worms body to rot. This usually happens late in the season. “Bacillus thuringiensis,” a wilt pathogen, is available to gardeners to help control infestations.