Publication Date
2023
Abstract
The box tree moth (BTM), Cydalima perspectalis (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), is an invasive pest of boxwood (Buxus spp.) causing severe damage to these popular ornamental plants. These plants are popular for their low maintenance, deer resistance, and evergreen foliage. It is a shrub common to almost all landscape environments in the United States. The box tree moth is native to East Asia. It was discovered in Europe in 2007, and since then it has spread rapidly across the continent. In 2018, box tree moth was first detected in North America in Ontario, Canada and in July 2021, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed the presence of the moth in Niagara County, NY, near the Canadian border. Subsequently, the presence of BTM was confirmed by APHIS in Lenawee County, Michigan, in November 2022, and Hamilton County, Ohio, in June 2023. Box tree moth is not known to be established in the US, but the risk of introduction is high. While boxwood is the primary host plant, the larvae of box tree moth may also infest other plants, including holly (Ilex sp.), euonymus (Euonymus sp.), and mock orange (Murraya paniculata). Signs and symptoms of BTM damage to host plants include skeletonized leaves, heavy defoliation, and desiccation, leading to the death of plants. Other signs include green-black excrement (frass) and webbing.
Recommended Citation
Dhakal, Kripa and Addesso, Karla M., "Box Tree Moth (Cydalima perspectalis)" (2023). Extension Publications. 176.
https://digitalscholarship.tnstate.edu/extension/176