A new boxwood pest has been found in three states

The box tree moth can significantly damage and potentially kill boxwood plants if left unchecked.  Between August 2020 and April 2021, a nursery in St. Catharines, Ontario shipped boxwood (Buxus species) that may have been infested with box tree moth to locations in six states (25 retail facilities in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, Ohio, and South Carolina) and a distribution center in Tennessee. At this time, the pest has been identified in three facilities in Michigan, one in Connecticut, and one in South Carolina, and APHIS is working with state plant regulatory officials to determine whether other facilities may be impacted.

On May 26, 2021, APHIS issued a Federal Order to halt the importation of host plants from Canada, including boxwood (Buxus species), Euonymus (Euonymus species), and holly (Ilex species). In addition, APHIS is coordinating closely with the affected states to:

• Find and destroy the imported plants in the receiving facilities
• Trace imported plants that were sold to determine additional locations of potentially infected boxwood
• Provide box tree moth traps and lures for surveys in the receiving facilities and other locations that received potentially infected boxwood
• Prepare outreach materials for State agriculture departments, industry, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agriculture Specialists stationed along the Canadian border, and the public.

These immediate measures are focused on protecting the economic viability of the thriving U.S. boxwood industry, as well as nurseries and other establishments that sell these plants wholesale and direct to consumers.

The box tree moth is native to East Asia and has become a serious invasive pest in Europe, where it continues to spread. In 2018, it was found in the Toronto area of Canada. 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.

Check out the slideshow above for some warning signs to help identify the presence of box tree moth.

Source and Photo Courtesy of Greenhouse Grower

Source: Greenhouse Grower