{"id":17296,"date":"2022-12-13T16:00:01","date_gmt":"2022-12-13T15:00:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gardensillustrated.com\/?p=97114"},"modified":"2022-12-13T16:42:43","modified_gmt":"2022-12-13T15:42:43","slug":"box-caterpillar-what-is-box-caterpillar-and-how-to-deal-with-it","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/gardensillustrated\/rss_feed\/box-caterpillar-what-is-box-caterpillar-and-how-to-deal-with-it\/","title":{"rendered":"Box caterpillar: what is box caterpillar, and how to deal with it"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By Veronica Peerless\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Tuesday, 13 December 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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The box tree caterpillar, also known as box caterpillar, box moth or box tree moth, has become a major pest of box (Buxus<\/em>) plants in recent years \u2013 it can defoliate plants, ruining box balls, topiary<\/a> and hedges<\/a> in a matter of days. Originally from Asia, the first moths were found in private gardens in Britain in 2011, initially in the south east, where they are now a major problem. They are now present across much of the UK, and many gardeners are still unaware of the damage that they can do. The signs of box caterpillar can be similar to that of box blight.<\/p>\n

While the box caterpillar will not usually kill a box plant outright, they cabox blightn weaken it through repeated attack, as the plant loses its ability to photosynthesise.<\/p>\n

In 2019, the National Trust spotted that in Ham House and Garden in Richmond<\/a>, jackdaws were feasting on the insects. No predators, however, seem to be making a significant dent in box moth numbers.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s more on box blight<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Box caterpillar: what is box caterpillar and how do you treat it?<\/h2>\n

What is box caterpillar?<\/h3>\n

The box tree caterpillar is the larvae of the box tree moth, Cydalima perspectalis.<\/em> The moth lays its eggs on the undersides of box leaves. These hatch into caterpillars that create webbing over their feeding area, and munch their way through the box leaves. After a month or so, the caterpillar forms a chrysalis which emerges as a box tree moth, which then mates, resulting in more eggs being laid. This can happen multiple times over a season.<\/p>\n

Box tree caterpillars can be a problem on box plants from March to October. The caterpillars overwinter among box foliage, starting to feed again the following spring.<\/p>\n

Signs of box caterpillar<\/h3>\n
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\u00a9 Getty Images<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\n

The signs of box tree caterpillar can initially be confused with box blight. You\u2019re more likely to notice the signs of the caterpillars initially, than the box moths or caterpillars themselves.Signs of box tree caterpillar include:<\/p>\n