Small Garden Box Tree Caterpillar Killer Nematodes

What Are Box Tree Caterpillars?

Box Tree Caterpillars have rapidly become a serious pest of Box plants and Box hedges all across the UK. The Box Tree Caterpillars can develop in large numbers and in severe cases are capable of completely killing Box plants. The caterpillars will defoliate the plants and damage the leaves, leaving them in a skeletal state. The caterpillars may even bore into the bark of more mature Box plants if left untreated.

Identifying Box Tree Caterpillars

The Box Tree Moths will lay flat, pale yellow eggs that overlap each other in a flat sheet on the underside of the leaves on your Box plants. The larvae that hatch are of a greenish-yellow composition with black heads. As the larvae mature their green body develops dark brown stripes. Very mature larvae have thick black and thin white stripes down the body, with large black dots outlined in white. Look for clear webbing left on the plants which is created when the caterpillars achieve high numbers.

Use Small Garden Box Tree Caterpillar Killer To Combat Caterpillars Found On Individual Box Plants

Our Small Garden Box Tree Caterpillar Killer Nematodes are ideal for those looking to treat a small number of individual Box plants. 

Each pack contains two sachets of 10million Steinernema carpocapsae nematodes which can be easily applied to treat Box Tree Caterpillars infesting buxus plants across smaller gardens.

We have three available unit options to purchase:

- 1 Application: 2x 10million To Treat Approximately 14sqm

- 2 Applications: 4x 10million To Treat Approximately 28sqm

- 4 Applications: 8x 10million To Treat Approximately 56sqm

How Do I Treat My Box Tree Caterpillar Infestation? 

1. Firstly, use our Box Tree Caterpillar Moth Traps:

The first step in protecting your plants is to set up one of our Box Tree Caterpillar Moth Traps. This will assist you in catching, monitoring and killing male Box Tree Moths. Once these are observed, it is likely that the Box tree Caterpillars will follow a few weeks later. By pre-empting their activity, and reducing moth numbers, you will have a greater chance of limiting an infestation. Moth mating and egg laying will also be reduced as a result.

2. Next, apply our Box Tree Caterpillar Killer Nematodes:

Nematodes can be used as an effective form of biological control against the caterpillars. The most successful species of nematode for Box Tree Caterpillar control is the Steinernema carpocapsae, which is contained within our Small Garden Box Tree Caterpillar Killer Nematode pack. Apply these nematodes as soon as small caterpillars are observed.

3. Finally, use our Soil Boost Granules to help your Box plants recover

Box plants can be aided in their recovery from Box Tree Moth attack with the application of our Soil Boost Granules. Soil Boost acts as an organic slow release fertiliser, helping the Box plants achieve newly invigorated growth after stress and damage.

What Conditions Do The Nematodes Require?

Choose a humid or wet day to apply your Box Tree Caterpillar Killer Nematodes. Nematodes are UV-sensitive and will not survive long when exposed to bright, sunny conditions. Apply the nematodes early in the morning or early in the evening in order to utilise the optimum humidity levels.

When Should I Apply The Nematodes?

There are several generations of Box tree Caterpillars in a season. They are active from April - October, so the nematodes should be applied during this period.

How Do I Apply The Nematodes?

1. Open sachet & empty entire contents into a bucket of1L of lukewarm water (store un-opened sachets in the fridge). Stir thoroughly to break up and dissolve carrier material.

2. (If Applying With A Nema Super Sprayer):

• Pour 500ml of the concentrate into the Nema Super Sprayer and proceed to follow the sprayer instructions
• Spray solution from bottom to top, making sure that the middle of the Box hedge gets plenty of spray solution and ensuring good coverage of Box Tree caterpillars
• Use all contents of pack once opened. Made up solution cannot be stored

 2. (If Applying With A Watering Can):

• Add 500ml of the concentrate to a watering can with up to 10L of water
• One pack of 10million nematodes will make2 watering cans
• Apply to Box plants using a coarse rose/nozzle
• Each watering can treats up to 7sqm
• Use all contents of pack once opened. Made up solution cannot be stored

3. It is recommended that a second application is applied 7 days after your first application. This is to ensure the nematodes can get to the caterpillars not hit during the first application, and indeed any new small caterpillars that have since hatched from fresh egg laying.

Full instructions are applied on delivery.

How Many Nematodes Do I Need?

Small Garden Box Tree Caterpillar contains two sachets of 10 million nematodes, each 10 million pack will treat, approximately, up to 14m².

The number of plants that can be treated will vary on the relative size of your Buxus plants. These nematode packs are suitable for small - medium sized Box plants. If looking to treat larger Box plants, or larger areas of Box plants see our standard sized Box Tree Caterpillar Killer Nematodes. 

Can I Store Nematodes?

You can store unopened nematode packs in a fridge but it is best to ensure you apply your nematodes as soon as possible for the best results.

Box Tree Killer nematodes are harmless to humans, pets and wildlife, and safe to apply to edible plants.