The box tree moth (BTM) was discovered in traps in Niagara County in July 2021, so everyone in Western New York has to be on the look out, said Lyn Chimera in the article Box Tree Moth: A New Invasive to Watch For. That article is part of WNY Gardening Matters, produced by the Master Gardeners of Cornell Cooperative Extension in Erie County.
The BTM damages boxwood as well as euonymus and holly (Ilex species).
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) is taking swift steps to locate and eradicate the BTM. In May 2021 the US banned importation of host plants from Canada.
USDA has started putting out pheromone traps in our area that would attract the males.
Identifying where it has spread and controlling the spread is the main focus. At this point there is no known highly effective methods of control.
If you have purchased any boxwood, euonymus or holly in the past year, examine them closely for signs of infestation.
See more about the box tree moth here.
Other articles in this issue are:
Hi Susan, thanks for that update. We’re glad you spotted it!
I live in Niagara County and found a box tree moth just sitting on my window one evening. Cornell co-operative confirmed it after looking at a picture I sent them. They told me to spray with Dipel, which is organic, or Sevin. So far I have not seen any damage in either of my two hedges.