- Fighting box tree moths: The right time
- Fight box tree moths with chemicals
- Biological control of box tree moths
- Fight box tree moths with home remedies
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The box tree moth spreads fear and terror. We've rounded up all the methods to fight the borer and revealed which is the best.
The bush tree moth (Cydalima perspectalis) is a green glutton: In the event of a severe infestation, a young or small box tree (Buxus) can quickly be bare be. Although the robust shrubs often sprout again, the appearance suffers significantly from the borer and repeated infestation can even lead to the death of the plant. We will introduce you to the various methods that effectively combat the caterpillar and at the same time inform you about the advantages and disadvantages.
At what point in time and with which chemical spray, household remedy or biological preparation can the bush tree moth be eradicated? In the following you will find a variety of methods as well as information on their effectiveness and references to our comprehensive special articles. Right at the beginning we have put together an overview of the various control methods for you in a table:
| Fighting agents | Reliable control | Stop eating immediately | Bee-friendly | Gentle on beneficials | Organic | Easy to use/ practical |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pheromone Traps | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Conventional Pesticides | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| Neem Products | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Home remedies | Less | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Different |
| Plantura Zünslerfrei XenTari® | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Fighting box tree moths: The right time
When can I spray against the box tree moth or take other control measures? The various stages of development differ in their combatability. Young borer caterpillars areprotected from pesticides in nests made of leaves and caterpillar webs, and the pupated caterpillar in the cocoon, in particular, is of course unaffected by stomach poisons. However, the box tree moth eggs and newly hatched larvae can be removed by cutting and older, free-feeding caterpillars are easily caught by sprays or a bold jet from the water hose. In order to understand when which measure has an effect, you have to get to know your enemy: eggs, caterpillars and moths of the box tree moth appear in a very specific order and in 2 to 3 generations a year. This article describes the biology of the moth and gives advice on when to use which method.
Tip: In order to follow the development of the box tree moth in your own garden and to be able to react directly, the use of pheromone traps for box tree moths is an effective tool. With traps like the Plantura borer trap, you can detect an infestation at an early stage. The traps emit sex pheromones that attract the males, letting them know exactly when eggs are laid and caterpillars appear.
Fight box tree moths with chemicals
If you want to fight the box tree moth with insecticides, you can choose from various manufacturers and active ingredients, which we have summarized in a table below. To draw your attention to the devastating effect of these insecticides, you will also find brief information on the respective harmfulness of the agent. Please note that agents that are declared as "not dangerous to bees" often have a tremendous harmful effect on other, no less important or beneficial organisms. For this reason, we at Plantura strictly advise against using any of the active ingredients listed below in your garden. Anyone who would like to find out more about the properties of sprays can do so in the list of approved pesticides from the Federal Office for Consumer Protection and Food Safety.
| Active ingredient | Effect | Products | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Azadirachtin | Contact poison, inhibits feeding, larval development, reproduction, then dies off | Lizetan AZ Pest Free Neem Products Compo Box Tree Moth KO i.a. | Harmful to various insects, arachnids and aquatic organisms |
| Thiacloprid | Systemic and contact venom, paralysis andDie off | Bayer Calypso | Harmful to humans in undiluted form, Harmful to various insects, arachnids and aquatic organisms |
| acetamipride | Systemic and Contact Poison, Paralysis and Death | Pest-free Careo Concentrate | Slightly harmful to various insects, arachnids and aquatic organisms |
| Pyrethrine, rapeseed oil | Contact Poison, Stun and Death | Spruzit AF Pest-free, COMPO Triathlon Universal Insect-free AF | Harmful to various insects, arachnids and aquatic beetles |
Note: The active ingredient azadirachtin is extracted from the seeds of the neem tree. Neem products may be used in organic farming and are considered "organic". In fact, however, the isolated active ingredient is comparable to conventional insecticides for many non-target organisms. Broths made from natural neem oil, on the other hand, are often less concentrated and also contain substances that have a deterrent effect on insects and thus prevent contact with the harmful azadirachtin.
Biological control of box tree moths
We recommend combating the borer biologically. Using low-dose sprays of neem oil is a possible option. The spray mixture must be applied regularly and, thanks to the ingredients salannin and melantriol, also acts as an effective deterrent. It simply keeps the moth at a distance with an unpleasant smell. In the meantime, the use of beneficial insects is also possible: nematodes of the species Steinernema carpocapsae parasitize and kill borer caterpillars. In order for the caterpillars to be able to reach them at all, however, a very special formulation of the spray liquid is required, which contains adhesive and swelling agents. The promotion of "own" beneficial insects is particularly close to nature: the native garden birds and wasps, as already mentioned above under "Household remedies".
The use of highly specific Bt preparations is recommended by authorities and experts: agents such as our Plantura Zünslerfrei XenTari®. They contain persisting forms of a special strain of the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), which can only damage caterpillars. The bacterium must be ingested by the borer, a toxin is released in the gut, which causes the caterpillar to stop eating quickly and then die. Caterpillars that do not feed on the box tree are killed by the bacteriumnot infested - so Admiral, Swallowtail and other beautiful moths are safe.
This special article will provide you with comprehensive information on biological control of the borer.
Fight box tree moths with home remedies
The box tree moth can be kept in check to a certain extent with tricks and tricks. If the infestation is low, collecting the caterpillars and cutting out the webs is still worthwhile. Anyone who observes the flight of the nocturnal moths - and thus the mating - using pheromone traps and uses the hedge shears no later than two weeks later can remove the eggs and newly hatched larvae that have been laid outside. Wrapping the entire boxwood in a net can help to prevent oviposition in the first place - but blocks the view of the beautiful shrub. If you want to quickly reduce a heavy infestation, using a high-pressure cleaner also helps to throw most of the caterpillars out of the branches. Or you pack individual box trees in black plastic bags and let the sun heat up the inside so much that hardly any borer leaves the bush alive. We would like to advise against the use of baking powder and algae lime, because these agents are ineffective or even harmful to your boxwood. Last but not least, encouraging birds and wasps in your garden is also a preventive measure. These devour the moths (possibly even the caterpillars) and thus plaster part of the problem. You can find detailed information on the use of the above-mentioned home remedies against box tree moths in our associated special article. Please note that home remedies often take more time and are less effective than specially developed remedies. Therefore, we clearly recommend the use of our Plantura Zünslerfrei XenTari®, which combines maximum effectiveness with sustainability - for gardeners without compromise.
Tip: The caterpillars of the box tree moth contain many toxins, which they absorb from the box tree, which is also poisonous. Just as most people can touch the boxwood tree, skin contact with the boxwood moth is not dangerous. However, you shouldn't put either the borer or the boxwood in your mouth. In our special article “Are box tree moths poisonous?” you can find more information on this topic.