Dispose of box tree moths: tips & hints

You have collected box tree moths and now want to dispose of them properly. Disposal is uncomplicated, you should only pay attention to one small thing.

the box tree moth (Cydalima perspectalis) stores poisonous alkaloids from the eaten boxwood (boxy) to effectively protect itself from predators. And poison really shouldn't just be spread in botany or on the compost, should it? Luckily the disposal of the borer caterpillars much easier than this train of thought would suggest.

Discard box tree moths

What should be considered when the box tree moth is disposed of? And can you actually touch the poisonous animals with your hands? You can find out more about this and information on how to dispose of live or dead caterpillars below.

Dispose of box tree moths: What is there to consider?

The disposal of the caterpillars of the box tree moth does not pose any particular problem. Young live caterpillars cannot survive without their food plant and soon perish. The mostly toxic alkaloids contained in the caterpillar are released during decomposition on the compost heap or in the Composting plant chemically and microbially degraded - the caterpillars are just like the leaves of the boxwood no danger to the environment, human or animal. Just one thing to keep in mind: last-instar caterpillars and pupae should be removed before the Disposal must be killed so that they no longer develop into moths and infest other plants be able. You can find out more in the following paragraphs.

Touch the box tree moth: is the caterpillar poisonous?

the Box tree moth moth are non-poisonous small butterflies, but all larval stages feed on the poisonous boxwood and ingest a variety of poisonous alkaloids. Some of these compounds are metabolized, while others are stored in the caterpillar's body to protect it from predators. However, the small caterpillars do not release the poison through the skin, so that they can usually be touched by us without danger. However, some people are sensitive to boxwood, and allergic symptoms cannot be ruled out. If you want to be on the safe side, you can wear gloves when handling the moth caterpillars and wash your hands thoroughly. Of course, you shouldn't put boxwood or boxwood moths in your mouth, because the poison can be ingested in this way and then have very unpleasant effects. You can find out more about the toxicity of the borer in our special article on the subject “Are box tree moths poisonous?“.

Dispose of live and dead box tree moth caterpillars

Depending on how you fight the caterpillars of the box tree moth, there can be significant amounts of live or dead caterpillars. If you hose down your boxwoods with a strong jet of water to curb a minor infestation, the caterpillars will end up next to the hedge. If they don't bother you there, you can simply leave them at a sufficient distance and treat any interested birds or mammals to a free meal - provided they catch the borer tolerate. If they don't do this, the small caterpillars will soon vomit out after eating.

If you collect the caterpillars by hand or remove them from your bushes together with the clippings, what happens next depends on the stage of development of the caterpillars: animals in the last larval stage can get away from cut branches in the bio bin or feed on the compost heap, pupate and become moths – further compounding the box tree moth problem multiplied. However, younger caterpillars do not survive distance from their food source. Accordingly, early larval stages can easily be transported alive into the organic waste bin, residual waste bin or compost.

Older, large caterpillars should be left in the sun in closed bags for a few days to kill them. You can also put them in the freezer in a sealed bag overnight. If all the animals have died, they can also be disposed of in the organic waste bin, residual waste bin or compost. In our article on Box tree moth caterpillar, their development is also described so that you can easily recognize them and roughly assess their development status.

SummaryDispose of box tree moth caterpillars:

• Caterpillars can be left well away from boxwood.
• Collected young caterpillars and clippings with young caterpillars can be put in organic waste, residual waste or compost without further treatment.
• Pupae and caterpillars in the last instar larvae must be killed before disposal. Heat or cold are simple means of doing this.

If you want more about the Fighting the moth If you want to know, we have compiled all the important information for you here.