Department of Energy Argonne National Laboratory Office of Science NEWTON's Homepage NEWTON's Homepage
NEWTON, Ask A Scientist!
NEWTON Home Page NEWTON Teachers Visit Our Archives Ask A Question How To Ask A Question Question of the Week Our Expert Scientists Volunteer at NEWTON! Frequently Asked Questions Referencing NEWTON About NEWTON About Ask A Scientist Education At Argonne Caterpillars and Pin Oaks 
Name: Neil
Status: Other
Age: 30s
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: N/A
Question:
I have a "Pin Oak" tree. There are these (I don't know what you would call them)slug, not slug. I just planted this tree 3years ago. It stands 7 feet tall and is no wider than 3 feet. Any way, these so-call- ed slug things, start out very small, approx. 1mm wide by 2-3mm long. They grow in size, by eating or sucking the juice from the tree. They seem to eat or suck the new formed buds from the tree. I find them underneith on the branchs, but more so toward the ends. These pests are cleverly hidden. You wouldn't know their an insect until you look very close such as I did.

Ants are attracted by them. The ants can't harm them because they have some type of armor on the out side. The ants are how I found these pests. They grow in size and when you poke them, their pusy like. I never see them move. I only see new little ones each day. There killing my tree I planted for my son!!! Please, what are they


Replies:
Sounds like caterpillars.

http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/land/forestry/fh/insects/gmguide.htm
http://www.forestworld.com/forestry/outreach/pestalerts/oakleaf/oakleaf.html

contact your local agricultural extension office for help.

Sincerely,
Anthony R. Brach, Ph.D.


Click here to return to the Botany Archives

NEWTON is an electronic community for Science, Math, and Computer Science K-12 Educators, sponsored and operated by Argonne National Laboratory's Educational Programs, Andrew Skipor, Ph.D., Head of Educational Programs.

For assistance with NEWTON contact a System Operator (help@newton.dep.anl.gov), or at Argonne's Educational Programs

NEWTON AND ASK A SCIENTIST
Educational Programs
Building 360
9700 S. Cass Ave.
Argonne, Illinois
60439-4845, USA
Update: June 2012
Weclome To Newton

Argonne National Laboratory