On May 28 , 2021 , the U.S. Department of Agriculture ’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service ( APHIS)announcedthat it had confirmed the presence ofbox tree moth , Cydalima perspectalis , in the continental United States and is solve to contain and extinguish the incursive pesterer . Growers and landscapers can study more about the berth on Aug. 5 whenMichigan State University Extensionwill be partner with Clemson University to provide afree webinar , “ What Growers and Landscapers demand to fuck About Box Tree Moth , ” from 12:30 - 2 p.m. During the webinar , we will cover signs of the box tree moth and actions to take to cover the moths .
Photo 1 . Damage from fertilise from the box tree moth . Photo by Ferenc Lakatos , University of Sopron , Bugwood.org .
According to thepress release from APHIS , “ Between August 2020 and April 2021 , a nursery in St. Catharines , Ontario , transport boxwood ( genus Buxus species ) that may have been infest with box tree diagram moth to location in six states—25 retail facilities in Connecticut , Massachusetts , Michigan , New York , Ohio and South Carolina — and a distribution center in Tennessee . ”
The box tree moth was detected at three localization in Michigan this natural spring , but the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development ( MDARD ) and USDA APHIS have removed the threat in those locations .
In addition to the webinar , MSU Extension is also partnering with MDARD and USDA APHIS to implement anearly sleuthing insect trapping program with citizensto find out if the box tree moth has been introduced elsewhere in Michigan . While MDARD greenhouse inspectors are actively inspecting commercial boxwood crop for box tree moth , MSU Extension is also ask nursery agriculturist who currently grow Turkish boxwood or landscapers who have recently set up boxwoods in either 2020 or 2021 to check up on them for signs of plague as describe below , to consider use ofbox tree moth pheromone traps , and to report any positive or suspicious find .
exposure 2 . The greenish caterpillar of the box tree moth with black stripes , shiny smutty head , and white stripes and haircloth . Photo by Mujezinovic Osman , Faculty of Forestry , Bugwood.org .
Signs of the box tree mothBox Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree moth caterpillars only eat and reproduce on box ( genus Buxus spp . ) . First , you will see the beginning of defoliation of the boxwood leaves ( Photo 1 ) . If you begin to see signs of impairment , ascertain the Turkish boxwood plants for caterpillars ( 0.25 inch after egg hatch to 1.5 inch long when ripe ) , which are slaked lime green with black stripes and have blank spots and hairs ( Photo 2 ) . The caterpillars have a shiny disastrous oral sex . As feeding progresses , caterpillars consume the leaves and bark , leaving only the midvein of leaf ( Photo 3 ) . With extensive feeding damage , you will see webbing from caterpillar silk and the eventual last of the plants .
glasshouse growers should spray all boxwood shrubs grown in container or in the field two time this time of year ( recent July and former September ) with a pyrethroid insecticide mark for use in glasshouse ( i.e. , bifenthrin , cyfluthrin , permethrin , resmethrin , cypermethrin , lamba - cyhalothrin , sumithrin ) .
Photo 3 . Extensive feeding damage from the box tree moth . photograph by Ferenc Lakatos , University of Sopron , Bugwood.org .
Landscapers who purchased and plant boxwoods within the last year should think follow up a precautionary nebulizer program . MSU Extension recommend landscapers or homeowners spray boxwood bush double this summertime ( in late July and early September ) with bifenthrin ( several ready - to - use product available at the garden center ) or any pyrethroid insecticide for homeowner use . Pyrethroid insecticides are those where the fighting component ends in thrin , for object lesson cyfluthrin , permethrin , resmethrin , cypermethrin , lamba - cyhalothrin , sumithrin .
instead , landscapers or homeowners can also spray a B thuringiensis ( Bt ) product once every two weeks . Bt is a bacterium that kills insects when ingested . There are race of Bt that affect specific type of insects ; kurstaki is the subspecies that specifically aim caterpillar larvae . Look for merchandise labels that say B thuringiensis subsp . kurstaki ( Btk ) .
photograph 4 and 5 . Light morph ( leftover ) and dark morph ( right ) of the box tree moth . Photos by Szabolcs Sáfián , University of West Hungary , Bugwood.org .
