Box tree moth: Everything about the moth

If you want to get rid of it, you have to understand the box tree moth. Here you will find everything you need to recognize and fight the voracious caterpillars.

You have at your boxwood (boxy) discolored leaves, dead branches, white webs and caterpillars observed - or noticed these symptoms in the neighborhood? It may be an infestation with the notorious box tree moth (Cydalima perspectalis). Now it's time to get information and act quickly to minimize damage to your shrubs.

The box tree moth is an invasive species native to East Asia. It was introduced to Central Europe a few years ago and specializes in our boxwood, which in many areas leads to complete defoliation. This overview article provides you with brief information on when the box tree moth occurs during the course of the year occurs, how to recognize and combat it, and how timing affects it combat success.

Box tree moth: Occurrence over the course of the year

The problem with the box tree moth is that it leads a fairly hidden existence. The moths are nocturnal, so the eggs are laid unnoticed - provided you not a suitable one pheromone trap used. With a pheromone trap like that Plantura borer trap you can recognize an infestation at an early stage. Directly below this paragraph you can see a table showing the development of the moth over the course of the year. Unfortunately, this is not a generally valid representation, because the speed of larval development depends, among other things, on temperature. Even a very mild or very harsh spring can cause a delay of a few weeks. Observing the flight of moths with traps and regularly checking the bushes between March and Unfortunately, September is therefore the only reliable way to detect an incipient infestation in good time to notice.

month	April	May	June	July	August	September
state of development	caterpillars (overwinters)	cocoons	butterflies, eggs	eggs, caterpillars	cocoons, butterflies	moths, eggs, caterpillars
generation	generation previous year	generation 1	generation 2

Identify box tree moths

Fortunately, detection is possible long before the appearance of yellow and dead shoots on the bush: the yellowish ones borer eggs are located in the outer areas of the boxwood, in densely packed "egg mirrors". Larvae that are only a few millimeters in size hatch from them. They are rather light and green-yellow in color and have a typical black head capsule. Immediately after hatching, they make their way into the protected interior of the bush to hide in webs and scrape at the poisonous boxwood leaves. If they have grown a little and have molted several times, the color of the will change Caterpillars of the box tree moth something into the dark and the characteristic black and white drawing emerges. Now they leave the inside of the boxwood and go back to the outside areas. Finally, after 6 larval stages, the pupation follows, also hidden in webs. The resulting small butterfly is usually brightly colored. He cares for the next generation of voracious caterpillars. We have prepared detailed, illustrated articles for you that describe the moth eggs, the associated caterpillars and the moths of the box tree moth. More to Recognition of the snail can be found in this special article. If, based on this description, you suspect another disease in your boxwood, you can find out more here diseases of boxyto inform.

Summary of recognizing box tree moths:

• If the infestation is severe, smaller or larger sections of the branch die off.
• An infestation can be recognized much earlier by webs and caterpillars that are a maximum of 5 cm long. The caterpillars are green-yellow, later with black-and-white markings and white bristles. The black head capsule is typical.
• The eggs are yellowish and are laid in groups in the outer areas under the leaf.
• The approximately 4.5 cm wide moths are not always the same colour, they are mostly light with black wing edges.

Combat box tree moths

If you recognized the infestation early or if it is weak, we recommend reading this special article on effective ones Home remedies to combat the box tree moth. He describes measures that work – such as the high-pressure cleaner – and less effective approaches – such as baking soda. But if you are already standing in front of a dying box tree full of caterpillars - you don't have to start collecting them anymore. You can now decide: Do you look for alternatives for the box tree or do you try to fight the moth moth? As the Fighting the moth works in general, you can find out here. Anyone who has no interest in fighting the caterpillars with poison will find biological ways here that achieve good results without chemicals. The use of nematodes, neem oil and preparations with Bacillus thuringiensis are far more promising than the environmental compatibility of these products would suggest. Conventional means are often also effective - due to the reduction more important beneficials however, new problems with pests are often created in the garden. We recommend always carefully comparing the package insert with the official requirements before buying a crop protection product.

tip: You don't have to worry if you collect and dispose of the box tree moths. The caterpillars are not poisonous on skin contact. But you shouldn't eat them - and it's better to wash your hands after contact. Inside, the little animals house several toxic compounds that they have absorbed from the boxwood, which is also poisonous. In our article “Are box tree moths poisonous?” learn more about the toxicity of the borer.

When is the best time to fight the borer?

The following applies to the moth: The choice of time determines the success of the fight. Anyone who applies a spray against the caterpillars, although they are still well wrapped up in their leaf webs, should not expect a reduction in the infestation. The same applies if the borers are still eggs or already cocoons. So when does it make sense to inject remedies against the box tree moth or to use something else? This article will guide you to the right one Timing of box tree moth control.

Box tree moth organic with XenTari^® fight

If you are looking for an effective, simple and yet environmentally friendly control method, you should go to ours Plantura Zünslerfrei XenTari^® to grab. Our Plantura Zünslerfrei XenTari^® is used in organic farming and in professionally tended ornamental and vegetable gardens because it has no effect on beneficial organisms or even humans. Unlike other sprays available, it is only effective against the caterpillars of certain butterflies such as the borer.

The active ingredient it contains are surviving spores of a specialized bacterium, des Bacillus thuringiensis. If these are applied to the leaf of the infested plant, they can be picked up by caterpillars when they eat. In the intestine, the bacteria release a toxin that not only leads to an immediate stop in feeding, but also causes the caterpillars to perish after a maximum of five days. Because of the high specificity, safety for the user and good effectiveness, we recommend using this biological spray.

tip: You can with our Plantura Zünslerfrei XenTari^® also make pome fruit trees and cabbage plants free of caterpillars - here the Large and Small Cabbage White fought with the remedy.

The box tree moth is not the only problem that box tree owners have to contend with. Here you can find out everything about boxwood fungus.