This is how you get rid of the box tree moth

Avoid using chemical sprays if possible

Chemical sprays not only work against the box tree moth and other pests, but also against beneficial insects. They are one of the main causes of massive bee deaths, Bumblebees and butterflies - and that applies even to the means on which you can read the words "bee-friendly". Chemical pesticides not only destroy insects, they also have a damaging effect on songbirds and other garden dwellers. They represent a serious intervention in the natural cycle and should therefore only be used after carefully weighing up all advantages and disadvantages.

Environmentally friendly pesticides

However, there are more environmentally friendly alternatives that have a less drastic impact on nature and the garden. The bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (B.t.), which is also approved for home gardens, has been used in organic farming for a long time. The moth caterpillars ingest the bacteria when they eat the boxwood and die quickly. For the treatment to be successful, you should do it by the end of April at the latest. You proceed as follows:

• Only spray when the sky is overcast, never in bright sunshine.
• Bacillus thuringiensis (B.t.) is very sensitive to UV light.
• Ideally, the temperature on the day of treatment is at least 18 degrees Celsius.
• Then the caterpillars are active and pick up a particularly large number of bacteria.
• The afflicted Boxwood must be sprayed dripping wet inside and out.

When using it, it is essential that you follow the information and instructions given on the package. Do not use the product more often or in a higher concentration than indicated - in this case a lot does not always help a lot! In addition to Bacillus thuringiensis, nematodes of the Steinernema carpocapsae species can also be used as sprays. However, these only work if the Buchs has not been treated with chemical pesticides beforehand!