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You have collected box tree moths and now want to dispose of them properly. Disposal is uncomplicated, you should only pay attention to one small thing.
The box tree moth (Cydalima perspectalis) stores poisonous alkaloids from the eaten box tree (Buxus) to effectively protect itself from predators . And you really shouldn't just spread poison in botany or on the compost, should you? Luckily, disposing of the moth caterpillars is a lot easier than this train of thought would suggest.
Dispose of box tree moth
What should be considered when the box tree moth is disposed of? And can you actually touch the poisonous animals with your hands? You can find out more about this and information on how to dispose of live or dead caterpillars below.
Dispose of the box tree moth: What is there to consider?
Disposal of box tree moth caterpillars does not pose any particular problem. Young live caterpillars cannot survive without their food plant and soon perish. The mostly toxic alkaloids contained in the caterpillars are broken down chemically and microbially during decomposition on the compost heap or in the composting plant - the caterpillars, like the leaves of the box tree, are therefore no danger to the environment, humans or animals. There is just one point you should keep in mind: caterpillars in the last larval stage and pupae should be killed before disposal so that they can no longer develop into moths and infest other plants. You can find out more details in the following paragraphs.
Touch the box tree moth: is the caterpillar poisonous?
The moths of the box tree moth are non-poisonous small moths, but all larval stages feed on the poisonous box tree, ingesting a variety of toxic alkaloids. Some of these compounds are metabolized, while others are stored in the caterpillar's body to protect it from predators. However, the small caterpillars release the poison through the skinnot off, so that they can usually be touched by us without danger. However, some people are sensitive to boxwood, and allergic symptoms cannot be ruled out. If you want to be on the safe side, you can wear gloves when handling the moth caterpillars and wash your hands thoroughly. Of course, you shouldn't put boxwood or boxwood moths in your mouth, because the poison can be ingested in this way and then have very unpleasant effects. You can find out more about the toxicity of the box tree moth in our special article on “Are box tree moths poisonous?”.
Dispose of live and dead box tree moth caterpillars
Depending on how you fight the box tree moth caterpillars, there can be significant amounts of live or dead caterpillars. If you hose down your boxwoods with a strong jet of water to curb a minor infestation, the caterpillars will end up next to the hedge. If they don't disturb you there, you can simply leave them at a sufficient distance and give any interested birds or mammals a free meal - as long as they can tolerate the moth. If they don't do this, the small caterpillars will soon vomit out after eating.
If you collect the caterpillars by hand or remove them from your bushes together with the clippings, what happens next depends on the stage of development of the caterpillars: Animals in the last larval stage can still eat cut off branches in the bio bin or the compost heap feed, pupate and become moths - further multiplying the box tree moth problem. However, younger caterpillars do not survive distance from their food source. Accordingly, early larval stages can easily be transported alive in the organic waste bin, residual waste bin or compost.
Older, large caterpillars should be left in the sun for a few days in sealed bags to kill them. You can also put them in the freezer in a sealed bag overnight. If all the animals have died, they can also be disposed of in the organic waste bin, residual waste bin or compost. In our article on the box tree moth caterpillar, their development is also described so that you can easily identify them and roughly assess their developmental status.
Dispose of box tree moth caterpillars:
- Caterpillars can inbe left at a sufficient distance from box trees.
- Collected young caterpillars and clippings with young caterpillars can be disposed of in organic waste, residual waste or compost without further treatment.
- Pupas and caterpillars in the last instar larvae must be killed before disposal. Heat or cold are simple means of doing this.
If you want to learn more about combating the moth moth, we have compiled all the important information for you here.