I am writing to you regarding an urgent email just received from our lawn / bush care company regarding Boxwood Moth Infestations. Reference attachment. Would greatly appreciate any information and recommendations you can provide. Contender's Tree & Lawn Specialists is reaching out to current customers regarding the Michigan Box Tree Moth Quarantine that has already gone into effect in 12 counties. The Box Tree Moth is new to the area, however is an incredibly invasive species that feed on nearly all boxwoods or box species, regardless of soil, shade or moisture conditions. Heavy infestations can defoliate host plants, once the leaves are gone, larvae will begin to consume the bark, resulting in girdling and the chance of plant death. Once infested, damage typically takes 2 weeks to develop on Boxwood and Box Tree species. There are also no natural predators in Michigan to combat population densities, allowing the invasive nature of this species to expand rapidly, so waiting for damage to appear could prove detrimental to the overall health and life span of plantings. With this being said, Contender's is recommending customers to take a preventative response in attempt in combating Box Tree Moths. Signs Indicating Box Tres Moth Infestation • green and yellow caterpillars with white, yellow, and black stripes and black spots. • Loose webbing in the area of caterpillar activity. • Evidence of feeding on edges of boxwood or box tree leaves or skeletonization of leaves. • White moths with a brown border and distinctive white comma-shaped mark on each forewing. • Less frequently - moths that are entirely brown except for the white mark on each forewing. • Clusters of 5-20 pale yellow eggs on the leaves of boxwood or box trees.