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Boxwood moth prevention? #925764

Asked March 10, 2026, 11:06 AM EDT

I live in Washtenaw county (quarantine area of boxwood moth) . I have no signs of disease on my boxwoods, but am wondering if prophylactic treatment (spraying) is recommended? If so, what is the recommended treatment protocol? Thank you!

Washtenaw County Michigan

Expert Response

Good Morning,
If you are in or around the quarantine zone, you can use a preventative pesticide spray to protect your boxwoods or if you have a positive identification of box tree moths and need to treat them. We recommend in late July and early September an application of bifenthrin (several ready-to-use products available at the garden center) or any pyrethroid insecticide for homeowner use can be used to control all life stages. Pyrethroid insecticides are those where the active ingredient ends in thrin, for example, cyfluthrin, permethrin, resmethrin, cypermethrin, lambda-cyhalothrin and sumithrin.
Alternatively, homeowners can spray a Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) product once every two weeks. However, Bacillus thuringiensis is not an effective control for larger caterpillars, eggs or adults. Bt is a bacterium that kills insects when ingested. There are subspecies of Bt that affect specific types of insects; kurstaki is the subspecies that specifically target caterpillar larvae. Look for product labels that say Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki (Btk).

What the box tree moth quarantine means for Michigan homeowners - Floriculture & Greenhouse Crop Production
Box Tree Moth: Management Guide

I hope this helps.  Thanks for using our service.
V/r, Replied March 10, 2026, 11:54 AM EDT

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