Box Tree Moth Advisory

July 02, 2023
btm

We’ve received a few questions about the Box Tree Moth. Right now, none have been found north of the Cincinnati area. Our best advice is to keep an eye on your boxwoods. The links provided to the OSU Buckeye Yard & Garden onLine web site, listed below, are very helpful.

USDA - Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (click here)

In July, 2021, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed the presence of box tree moth (BTM, Cydalima perspectalis) in Niagara County, New York. The moths are likely from a nearby infestation in Canada. In November 2022, APHIS confirmed the presence of BTM in Lenawee County, Michigan. APHIS and the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development are determining the extent of the infestation in Michigan. In June 2023, APHIS confirmed BTM in Hamilton County, Ohio.

This invasive pest can significantly damage and potentially kill boxwood (Buxus species) plants if left unchecked. Boxwoods are a popular ornamental evergreen shrub common to almost all landscape environments in the temperate United States.

The insect is native to East Asia and has become a serious invasive pest in Europe and Canada, where it continues to spread. The caterpillars feed mostly on boxwood and heavy infestations can defoliate host plants. Once the leaves are gone, larvae consume the bark, leading to girdling and plant death.

Additional information from OSU Buckeye Yard & Garden onLine:

Box Tree Moth Confirmed in Southwest Ohio

Bad Looking Boxwoods