Puss Caterpillar / Asp Control in Leon Springs / The Dominion / 78257, TX
We treat a lot of puss caterpillar / asp in Leon Springs / The Dominion / 78257. Not because it's rare — because it's everywhere once the weather turns, and most pest companies still try to spray it like it's just another wasp. It's not, and doing it wrong either makes the colony defensive or leaves it right where it was. This page is the short version of how we think about it, written so you can decide whether to call us, wait it out, or handle it yourself. All three are sometimes the right answer.
Why puss caterpillar / asp matters in Leon Springs / The Dominion / 78257
Before we get into treatment, here's a minute on why Leon Springs / The Dominion / 78257 has the puss caterpillar / asp pressure it does. It matters because it changes the timing of what we do.
Boerne and Bergheim: Mature oak canopy throughout the historic district and surrounding residential areas. Asp populations are high every year.
About the puss caterpillar / asp
The cocoon: A unique distinctive structure attached to the trunk or branch of a host tree, oval-shaped, with the same color as the larva because the larval hairs are incorporated into the silk. There is a trap-door operculum at one end that the emerging adult pushes open to exit. The dorsal surface has a structure resembling a leaf scar. These cocoons can sometimes be found on tree bark in winter and are themselves not dangerous to handle (the venom is in the larval spines, which are largely shed during pupation), though removed larval hair may still cause irritation.
Where puss caterpillar / asp shows up in Leon Springs / The Dominion / 78257
TPC San Antonio (Oaks and Canyons golf courses) — Golf course perimeter yellowjacket work, particularly July–September. Resort clubhouse paper wasp prevention through the season.
When to act in Leon Springs / The Dominion / 78257
Matches Boerne's cycle — approximately a week behind the San Antonio urban core in spring and a week ahead in fall, because of the Hill Country elevation and limestone terrain.
How we treat puss caterpillar / asp in Leon Springs / The Dominion / 78257
A few things we won't do: we won't spray from 20 feet and call it done, we won't sell you a six-month contract for a problem that's going to resolve in three weeks anyway, and we won't recommend treatment if what you've got is harmless. That last one happens more often than you'd think with puss caterpillar / asp calls in Leon Springs / The Dominion / 78257.
Targeted treatment: