Dragonfli's Three-Step Strategy To Combat The Entire Box Tree Moth Life Cycle
Box Tree Moths overwinter as caterpillars that hide deep inside the Box Plant foliage. As temperatures warm, the caterpillars will pupate and transform into moths. The female moths will proceed to mate and begin laying eggs in little clusters on Box tree plants. These eggs will then hatch into the damaging caterpillars that devastate and kill Box plants and hedges.
Dragonfli are on hand to help, however, and can now provide natural solutions against two critical stages of the Box Tree Moth life cycle!
Box Tree Caterpillars feed on Box plants and hedges and are capable of killing Buxus entirely if left untreated.
Stage 1: Catch Adult Box Tree Moths With Pheromone Traps To Reduce Egg Laying
The first step to take in combating Box Tree Moths is to set up your Box Tree Moth Pheromone Traps. These traps will catch male Box Tree Moths and prevent them from mating with females. The traps will also provide you with a valuable early warning of Box Tree Moth activity.
Our Box Tree Moth Pheromone Traps are the first key component in the defence against Box Tree Moth infestations.
Box Tree Moths have 2-3 generations a year, so it is good practice to keep your Box Tree Pheromone Traps active all spring and summer. Each pheromone lure lasts about six weeks, after which it should then be replaced. You can find replacement lures by clicking here.
Pheromone traps used solely will not catch enough Box Tree Moths to prevent entire infestations, so please be sure to also follow the next steps.
Box Tree Moths are identifiable with white coloured wings bordered by brown. They have a wingspan of roughly 4cm.
Stage 2: Apply Nematodes Directly Onto Box Tree Caterpillars
If Box Tree Caterpillars are observed on Box plants, apply our Box Tree Caterpillar Killer Nematodes directly onto the caterpillars. Only apply the nematodes if caterpillars are present. More than one application may be required, which is why two sachets of nematodes are included in Box Tree Caterpillar Killer. Apply the first sachet when Box Tree Caterpillars are identified, and apply the second sachet about a week later.
Simply spray our Box Tree Caterpillar Killer directly onto the caterpillars and the nematodes will enter the pest via a natural opening, before killing the caterpillars from inside.
Make sure unopened nematode sachets are stored in a fridge to keep them fresh, and avoid applying nematodes on bright, sunny days, as nematodes are U.V sensitive. The optimum conditions for applying nematodes are warm, overcast, humid days. Alternatively, simply apply the nematodes early, or late on in the day.
Box Tree Caterpillars can grow up to 30mm in length and are a greenish-yellow colour. They can be concealed within webbing spun around buxus plants.
Stage 3: Invigorate Renewed Box Plant Growth
Our two natural solutions combine to provide a complete biological control of Box Tree Moths and protect your valuable Box Hedges and plants from this devastating pest.
If looking to provide your Box plants with a further aid to recovery, consider also applying our Soil Boost biostimulant granules.
Soil Boost acts as an organic slow release fertiliser, helping the Box plants achieve newly invigorated growth after stress and damage.
If you ever need any further advice on how to combat Box Tree Moths feel free to get in touch via email at sales@dragonfli.co.uk, via social media, or by giving us a call on 01376 563322, and we’d be happy to assist.
Comments (Responses)
Julian Ives
Hi Robert,
Thanks for reaching out.
I’m sorry to hear that your box plants are suffering at the minute. Even this late in the season Box Tree Caterpillars may still be active. They are quite hardy pests, unfortunately, and can remain present until temperatures drop significantly as the winter advances.
In terms of natural controls, it is now too cold for effective nematode use outdoors. Sadly this can be said also of our Trichogramma wasp sachets.
As that is the case we can only advise that you apply our natural controls as temperatures warm up again next Spring. In the meantime try to cut back as much of the infested areas as you can, and manually remove any caterpillars you identify. They will overwinter soon so it is just a case of tackling as many of this last generation of pests as you can.
If you’d like, please send us a photo of your infestation to sales@dragonfli.co.uk and we can advise further.
Kind regards,
Julian Ives [Director, Dragonfli]
Robert
Not sure which killer is at work but my box hedge and trees are suffering with leaves died out in patches. It is November now – what can you recommend?
Julian Ives
Hi David,
Thanks for getting in touch.
I am sorry to hear of your infestation and regret to inform you that since we do not advise the use of chemical insecticides here at Dragonfli we would be unable to recommend any immediate follow up treatment for you. As you have sprayed your hedges repeatedly with the chemicals our biological controls would be incompatible with these insecticides if applied soon after.
If you wish to give our natural controls a go, including our Box Tree Caterpillar Killer Nematodes and Box Tree Moth Egg Killer Sachets, then I would suggest you wait until next season and apply them before, or ideally instead of, any chemical sprays.
If you need any further information on our products or advice on how best to apply them please feel free to get in touch and we’ll be happy to assist.
Kind regards, Julian Ives [Director, Dragonfli]
David Lee
Hi there, I have box trees, spirals, balls , and hedges all around my property that is roughly 1 acre and suddenly I noticed the die back and started investigating what was wrong. One of my hedges about 100 feet long on one side was fine but then I looked at the rear and what a mess ! I got the hosepipe out and watered it as it looked dry and then I saw the moths coming out of it and looked on line and treated it with bug 2 which worked to a degree gave it 3 treatments but I still had a few moths. The hedge fortunately started to regrow and I used a different treatment which seems better but has not got rid of them all !! The reason for my message is due to the fact I have so many boxes at my home it cost a small fortune in treatments that I simply cannot afford, is there a larger quantity that is a bit cheaper buying in bulk. Many thanks Dave
08 March, 2024
Faye
Hi our box hedges took a bad hit last summer and were in quite bad shape. My husband has just cut them back to see if we can revive them and we have now noticed a massive amount of caterpillars on the cuttings and also on the hedges? It’s like they were dormant? Is this possible? It’s been too cold and haven’t even seen any moths? What action should we take? Many thanks