• We offer a continous year round tree banding service. Once you are signed up we take care of your tree bands every year so you don't have to remember to arrange to have them done.
• The cost of this servce is $24 per band(GST included). We will leave the invoice when we put the bands on in late summer. This cost includes the entire years service covering the initial installation, re-greasing in early spring and removal in late spring. It is important to remove the tree band to prevent damage to the bark over the summer.
• Tree Banding Service Agreement - for use by registered customers only

Cankerworms

"Every year cankerworms cause extensive damage to trees in Regina. They feed on most broad-leaved trees and shrubs, but prefer American and Siberian Elm, Manitoba Maple and fruit trees.* The first signs of infestation are the appearance of small "shot holes" in new leaves and larvai can ge found under the leaves. During severe outbreaks, trees and shrubs may be completely defoliated. Healthy trees will usually produce a new crop of leaves by mid-july. After three or more consecutive years of heavy attack, trees growth is slowed and branches in the crown may die back." **

"Cankerworms drop to the ground and burrow into the soil when full grown. Moths of the fall cankerworm emerge from their cocoons in mid-September and October. Spring cankerworms remain burrowed through the summer, fall and winter and emerge as moths from the end of March to m id-May. After the moths emerge they crawl up the trees to lay their egg masses in the crown of the tree. The eggs of both the fall and spring cankerworms hatch in spring." **

Banding

"Female cankerworm moths are unable to fly and must crawl up the tree to lay their eggs. By applying a sticky barrier which the moths must cross, homeowners help prevent eggs from being laid in their trees. Trees should be banded from late March to mid-May and again from September to mid-November to catch the cankerworm moths both times are emerging from the soil..." **

A little Regina cankerworm history

1980's and 1990's: Cankerworm infestations were very high.
2000 to 2001: Cankerworm populations were almost non-existent due to tree banding and cold weather.
2002 to 2004: Everyone thought the Cankerworms were gone and stopped banding their trees.
2005-2006: The Cankerworms started to come back.
2007: The Cankerworm infestations were very high again and everyone resumed tree banding.

Because of regular tree banding, in some areas of the city, present Cankerworm populations don't seem to be too high. However, if we stop banding they will increase.

* In addition to the Elm, Maple and fruit trees, many of our customers have reported cankerworm infestation in their Ash trees and have them banded as well.

** City of Regina Cankerworm leaflet.