Fight box tree moths: tips & tricks

The box tree moth spreads fear and terror. We have compiled all methods for fighting the borer and revealed which is the best.

The bush tree moth (Cydalima perspectalis) is a green insatiable: In case of heavy infestation, a young or small box tree (boxy) be quickly eaten bald. Although the robust shrubs often sprout again, the appearance suffers significantly from the borer and repeated infestation can even lead to the death of the plant. We will introduce you to the various methods that effectively combat the harmful caterpillars and at the same time inform you about the advantages and disadvantages.

At what point in time and with which chemical spray, household remedy or biological preparation can the bush tree moth be eradicated? In the following you will find a variety of methods as well as information on their effectiveness and references to our comprehensive special articles. Right at the beginning we have put together an overview of the various control methods for you in a table:

control agents	Reliable combat	Immediate stop eating	Gentle on bees	Beneficial	biological	Easy to use/ practical
pheromone traps	no	no	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Conventional pesticides	Yes	Yes	Yes	no	no	no
Neem Products	Yes	Yes	Yes	no	Yes	no
home remedies	Fewer	no	Yes	Yes	Yes	Differently
Plantura Zünslerfrei XenTari®	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes

Fight box tree moths: the right time

When can I spray against the box tree moth or take other control measures? The various stages of development differ in their combatability. Young borer caterpillars are protected from pesticides in nests made of leaves and caterpillar webs, and the pupated caterpillar in the cocoon, in particular, is of course unaffected by stomach poisons. the Box tree moth eggs and newly hatched larvae, however, can be removed by pruning, and older, free-eating caterpillars are easily caught by sprays or a spirited jet from the waterskin. In order to understand when which measure has an effect, you need to get to know your enemy: eggs, caterpillars and Box tree moth moth occur in a very specific order and in 2 to 3 generations a year. This article describes the biology of the borer and gives advice on when which method can be used.

Tip: In order to follow the development of the box tree moth in your own garden and to be able to react directly, the use of Pheromone traps for box tree moths an effective tool. With traps like that Plantura borer trap you can recognize an infestation at an early stage. The traps emit sex pheromones that attract the males, letting them know exactly when eggs are being laid and caterpillars are about to appear.

Fight box tree moths with chemicals

If you want to fight the box tree moth with insecticides, you can choose from various manufacturers and active ingredients, which we have summarized in a table below. To draw your attention to the devastating effect of these insecticides, you will also find brief information on the respective harmfulness of the agent. Please note that agents that are declared as "not dangerous to bees" often have a tremendous harmful effect on other, no less important or beneficial organisms. For this reason, we at Plantura strictly advise against using any of the active ingredients listed below in your garden. If you want to find out more about the properties of spraying agents, you can do so in the Directory of approved plant protection products from the Federal Office for Consumer Protection and Food Safety do.

active ingredient	effect	Products	Hints
Azadirachtin	Contact poison, inhibits feeding, larval development, reproduction, then death	Lizetan AZ Pest Free, Neem Products, Compo Box Tree Moth K.O. i.a.	Harmful to various insects, arachnids and aquatic organisms
Thiacloprid	Systemic and contact poison, paralysis and death	Bayer Calypso	In undiluted form harmful to humans, harmful to various insects, arachnids and aquatic organisms
acetamiprid	Systemic and contact poison, paralysis and death	Pest-free Careo Concentrate	Slightly harmful to various insects, arachnids and aquatic organisms
pyrethrins, rapeseed oil	Contact Poison, Stun and Death	Spruzit AF pest-free, COMPO Triathlon Universal insect-free AF	Harmful to various insects, arachnids and aquatic organisms

Notice: The active ingredient azadirachtin is extracted from the seeds of the neem tree won. Neem products may be used in organic farming and are considered "organic". In fact, however, the isolated active ingredient is comparable to conventional insecticides for many non-target organisms. Broths made from natural neem oil On the other hand, they are often less concentrated and also contain substances that have a deterrent effect on insects and thus prevent contact with the harmful azadirachtin.

Combat box tree moths biologically

We recommend combating the borer biologically. Using low-dose sprays of neem oil is a possible option. The spray mixture must be applied regularly and, thanks to the ingredients salannin and melantriol, also acts as an effective deterrent. It simply keeps the moth at a distance with an unpleasant smell. In the meantime, the use of beneficial insects is also possible: nematodes of the species Steinernema carpocapsae parasitize and kill borer caterpillars. However, in order for the caterpillars to be able to reach them at all, a very special formulation of the spray mixture containing adhesive and swelling agents is required. The promotion of "own" beneficial insects is particularly close to nature: the native garden birds and wasps, as already mentioned above under "Household remedies".

Authorities and experts recommend the use of highly specific Bt preparations: agents like ours Plantura Zünslerfrei XenTari^®. They contain persisting forms of a special strain of the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), which can only damage caterpillars. The bacterium must be ingested by the borer, a toxin is released in the gut, which causes the caterpillar to stop eating quickly and then die. Caterpillars that do not feed on the boxwood will not be attacked by the bacterium - so admirals, swallowtails and other beautiful moths are safe.

This special article provides you with comprehensive information about the possibilities of biological control of the borer.

Fight box tree moths with home remedies

To a certain extent, the box tree moth can be kept in check with tricks and tricks. If the infestation is low, collecting the caterpillars and cutting out the webs is still worthwhile. Who the flight of the nocturnal butterflies - and thus the mating - means pheromone traps observed and uses the hedge trimmer no later than two weeks later, can thus remove the eggs and newly hatched larvae that have been laid outside. Wrapping the entire boxwood in a net can help to prevent oviposition in the first place - but blocks the view of the beautiful shrub. If you want to quickly reduce a heavy infestation, using a high-pressure cleaner also helps to throw most of the caterpillars out of the branches. Or you pack individual box trees in black plastic bags and let the sun heat up the inside so much that hardly any borer leaves the bush alive. We would like to advise against the use of baking powder and algae lime, because these agents are ineffective or even harmful to your boxwood. Last but not least, encouraging birds and wasps in your garden is also a preventive measure. These devour the moths (possibly even the caterpillars) and thus plaster part of the problem. Detailed information on the application of the above Home remedies for box tree moths can be found in our associated special article. Please note that home remedies often take more time and are less effective than specially developed remedies. We therefore clearly recommend the use of ours Plantura Zünslerfrei XenTari^®, which combines maximum effectiveness with sustainability - for gardeners without compromise.

Tip: The caterpillars of the box tree moth contain many toxins, which they absorb from the box tree, which is also poisonous. Just as most people can touch the boxwood tree, skin contact with the boxwood moth is not dangerous. However, you shouldn't put either the borer or the boxwood in your mouth. In our special article “Are box tree moths poisonous?” for more information on this topic.