Elm spanworms invade Assiniboine Avenue in downtown Winnipeg

Just as you were getting use to the waveof forest tent caterpillars across the city, elm spanworms have been found in Winnipeg.

• Forest tent caterpillars gobbling leaves in east Winnipeg

The spanworms were found on Assiniboine Avenue Wednesday afternoon.

The caterpillars are capable of stripping theleaves frombig shade treesand they can reproduce at an impressive rate, each female capable oflaying as many as 250 eggs.

To rid masses of elm spanworm eggs fromtrees, homeownerscan cleavetwigs and little branches from trees.

Dousing leaves with BTK to control worms is another approach, but because rain washes it away homeowners must reapply the product following a downpour.