Box Tree Moths - Ask Extension
Is there an effective preventative treatment that a homeowner can use? I have a number of boxwood plants and I have been advised that the Box Tree Mo...
Knowledgebase
Box Tree Moths #868908
Asked May 17, 2024, 2:25 PM EDT
Is there an effective preventative treatment that a homeowner can use? I have a number of boxwood plants and I have been advised that the Box Tree Moths and the resulting caterpillar infestation can quickly destroy boxwood. There are no moths or caterpillars at present and I would like to keep it that way by creating an inhospitable environment for them. What can I do? Thanks.
Oakland County Michigan
Expert Response
To report a box tree moth infestation:
https://www.canr.msu.edu/tag/box-tree-moth
The following information should be helpful to you:
https://www.canr.msu.edu/resources/insecticide-options-for-box-tree-moth-management-ir4-project
https://bygl.osu.edu/node/2262
https://www.canr.msu.edu/tag/box-tree-moth
The following information should be helpful to you:
https://www.canr.msu.edu/resources/insecticide-options-for-box-tree-moth-management-ir4-project
https://bygl.osu.edu/node/2262
Thank you for the prompt response.
Does it make any sense to use any of the possible treatments / insecticides BEFORE any moths are present? I have been quoted a program of 4 sprayings to begin now but there are no moths or caterpillars present in my boxwood. I called English Gardens for an opinion as well and was advised that all known treatments are contact insecticides which I took to mean the bad bugs need to be present for those products to work. I was told there was no reliable way to make the boxwood "inhospitable" if you will at this time. There is some sort of moth trap that can be used but the guy at EG does not use it. He just keeps an eye on his boxwood regularly and pokes them and sees what flies out.
Your thoughts?
Thanks.
On Friday, May 17, 2024 at 06:41:29 PM EDT, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:
Currently I know of no preventive methods for protecting your boxwoods from this pest. The link below is information primarily for landscapers. It does mention that preventive measures may be implemented.
It further states:
"Nursery growers should spray all boxwood shrubs grown in containers or in the field two times this season (late July and early September) with a pyrethroid insecticide labeled for use in nurseries (i.e., bifenthrin, cyfluthrin, permethrin, resmethrin, cypermethrin, lamba-cyhalothrin, sumithrin). These chemicals likely are available only to professional insecticide applicators and not homeowners. So for now, the best thing you can do is inspect your boxwoods regularly for the signs that are listed in the link.
https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/what-growers-and-landscapers-need-to-know-about-box-tree-moth
It further states:
"Nursery growers should spray all boxwood shrubs grown in containers or in the field two times this season (late July and early September) with a pyrethroid insecticide labeled for use in nurseries (i.e., bifenthrin, cyfluthrin, permethrin, resmethrin, cypermethrin, lamba-cyhalothrin, sumithrin). These chemicals likely are available only to professional insecticide applicators and not homeowners. So for now, the best thing you can do is inspect your boxwoods regularly for the signs that are listed in the link.
https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/what-growers-and-landscapers-need-to-know-about-box-tree-moth
I'm sorry, I failed to address your question about traps. I'm not sure if traps for this particular moth are available or not. The jury is out on the effectiveness of such traps as they tend to draw critters from all over the neighborhood to your landscape.
The link below has some updated information on the use of pheromone traps for the boxwood tree moth:
https://www.leaderpub.com/2021/08/17/msu-extension-launches-invasive-species-detection-program-for-box-tree-moth/
https://www.leaderpub.com/2021/08/17/msu-extension-launches-invasive-species-detection-program-for-box-tree-moth/
