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The Box Tree Moths has a mainly white body, a brown head and white wings – with a wingspan of about 40mm. Dissolve 3 grams of Xentari granules for every 30 litres of water. This will cover around 30 m² of boxwood surface. If you have a bigger hedge, simply mix up some more! If you have small Box bushes, the larvae can simply be removed by hand. However, this is unlikely to be effective on large, older topiary or bushes. Highly attractive pheromone lures have been designed to specifically attract male Box Tree Moths into traps. The pheromone attracts the male moths to the lure, which then drop down into a funnel trap filled with water. By catching male moths, mating and egg-laying can be reduced, and populations monitored for additional control measures. The RHS believes that avoiding pests, diseases and weeds by good practice in cultivation methods, cultivar selection, garden hygiene and encouraging or introducing natural enemies, should be the first line of control. If chemical controls are used, they should be used only in a minimal and highly targeted manner. Non-chemical control
Box caterpillars, also known as box hedge caterpillars and box tree caterpillars, are a type of moth that feeds on the leaves of box trees (buxus) and hedges. They’re native to East Asia but have been spotted in domestic gardens in the UK since 2011 — it’s believed that they arrived on imported Buxus plants. However, if you’ve caught your infestation late and your boxwood’s life hangs in the balance (like mine has in the past!), then it may be worth using a chemical insecticide. But a word of warning – you should only use chemical insecticides minimally and in a highly targeted way. Here’s how to do this: The caterpillars start at 15-20mm long and grow up to 40mm long. They then develop into pupae, which wrap themselves in white webbing. Moths do fly all months of the year though, and as surprising as it sounds you can even catch them in the middle of winter. DIY Moth Trap Tips The Box-tree Moth Cydalima perspectalis is a striking moth that was accidentally introduced to the UK originating from south-east Asia. The larvae feed on various species of box Buxus spp. In addition to the form figured there is a melanic variation, the wings being purplish brown with a white spot near the centre of the forewing. The first report of this moth was from Kent in 2007 and by 2011 larvae had been found in private gardens. This species is now well established in the London area, where it is spreading and the population appears to be growing (and is occasionally found in numbers). In recent years it has gained a strong foothold in Essex, Surrey, Hertfordshire and parts of Berkshire. The moth has now been recorded widely over large parts of England, particularly in the south, with the larval stage being found in several widely distributed localities.With this in mind, it’s unsurprising that seeing a box caterpillar infestation can cause even an experienced gardener some stress, especially if their boxwood is in plain sight for all to see!
until they’re ready to transition to the pupal stage. At this stage, they attach to a stem and spin a silken cocoon, remaining wrapped in silk for up to three weeks. During this period, the caterpillar undergoes a complete metamorphosis, emerging as an adult moth. The box caterpillar moth is active at night.
Box moths are nocturnal insects with white wings spanning 4cm. Their wings are edged with a dark brown trim and a little white “horn” halfway across the outside of the wingspan. What is the box caterpillar’s life cycle? It was recorded in Ontario, Canada in August 2018 [12] and in the eastern United States in May 2021. [13] Description [ edit ] The pesticides listed are legally available in the UK. This information is provided to avoid misuse of legal products and the use of unauthorised and untested products, which potentially has more serious consequences for the environment and wildlife than when products are used legally. Moths can also be lured using pheromones, or more traditional means such as wine ropes and sugaring. Sugaring is remarkably effective for 'old lady' moths - I once had a patch covered with these in the garden from a sugaring experiment. Never seen them in a MV trap, ever! Moth Trap Bulbs
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