Forms dense thickets if left on it's own. It would be safe to leave until the fruit turns red, but the roots are probably getting stronger by the minute. You'd be better off with Nandina for occasional red berry clusters.

excellent! thanks- we were planning on having them out anyway. Our lot is SO shady, something had to go. I'm glad it's something that needed to be gone anyway. I appreciate it- stephanie

i hate wrestling with lights with a passion!!! i have had many years when 1/2 way thru the season(or sooner!), 1/2 a strand would go out... the mini lights are so cheap now that i tend to use 'fresh'(1-3 years old, max) strands for the tree and other difficult or highly visible areas. i just can't be bothered with messing with inexpensive lights anymore!!!! it's wasteful, but helps keep me sane during the holidays! i have also swapped out alot of outdoor sets with LED sets too...have 'recycled' old or 1/2 working sets at HD. i bought one of those light fixing guns one year and had terrible success with it---i tried to use it on our icicles and ended up returning it-don't know if the gun was faulty or if our lights were beyond repair...

Yes I believe Amy nailed it. I get them on some of my young Shag Bark Hickories sometimes. It looks like they are in their first larval stage and will be molting soon. When they head back to the trunk they are easy to squish as they climb down to the soil to pupate. BTK is effective in the early larval stages.