PelhamToday received the following reader letter regarding the Boxwood Caterpillar:
If you have Boxwood (Buxus sempervirens) in your landscaping, you may already have noticed them browning or burnt to a crisp. If yours are healthy and green, you may want to read on before you suffer the same problem many of us in Fonthill and Niagara are already experiencing.
The Boxwood Tree Moth or Boxwood Caterpillar (Cydalima perspectalis) is an invasive pest recently identified in Northern US and Canada (2018). It loves to eat boxwood leaves and since it’s a moth at one stage of its life it can spread through neighbourhoods in the spring and summer. The caterpillar is the size of your baby finger and green. By staying under the leaf canopy of the boxwood it’s hard to spot but once you see one you will be shocked by the number present, especially if your plants are already showing stress. You may also see tiny webs among the branches.
The suggested remedy is to apply a spray of BTK every two weeks during dry weather spells to fight an infestation or once a month if you want to protect your plants. BTK has to be eaten by the pest to be effective so all that is required is to spray the leaves not the pest. In protecting healthy plants your alternative is to regularly inspect your landscaping for an infestation and apply quickly before they become established. BTK is used by organic and nonorganic farmers and was applied by helicopter over much of Fonthill to fight Gypsy Moth. Safer’s Brand BTK is available at hardware stores and greenhouses. You will need a pump sprayer and some basic personal protective gear like a mask, gloves and eye protection, no more than what I wear when I paint. Be sure to read the directions as it is a concentrate you mix with water and apply as directed.
My plants are at different stages of infestation, some may be dead, but I will wait and see what they look like come fall. I spoke to a landscaper friend of mine, and they feel that this pest is here for the long term so if you need to replace plantings of Boxwood you might want to consider alternatives.
Be a good neighbour and inspect your plants and spread the word.
Wayne Gale
Fonthill
