What’s eating my Box?

Posts

• Perki Posts: 2,527

  May 2020

  Looks like Bux tree Caterpillar 

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• lkbbackup Posts: 16

  May 2020

  Perki said:

  Looks like Bux tree Caterpillar 

  Thanks for the info... I’ll have a proper look tomorrow; but doesn’t look good at this point... Cheers...

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• Jackie-H Posts: 9

  May 2020

  Hi, yes, I'm afraid you seem to have. An attack of box caterpillar. I too am fighting these blighters. Left unchecked (killed), they will totally destroy your box. I also had it last year, so was quicker to get on top of it this year. You have a few options. Meticulously go through your box picking off and distroying the caterpillars. They are usually found in webbing which tends to stick leaves together. I'm sorry to say, there are likely to be very many. And/or you can spray the box with zen tari or similar insecticide, you may still see some, but usually they die in 2 days. You will need to repeat the spraying as per instructions to catch the next cycle of infestation, and monitor throughout the summer. I was successful last year. And my box recovered well. Many will recommend removal and replacement, as it is likely they will return next year. Good luck with saving your buxus. 

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• KeenOnGreen Posts: 1,831

  May 2020

  This has become the most commonly reported pest/disease to the RHS, even more than slugs/snails!  There will be more of these posts in future, there have already been many. 
  
  As someone who tried to pick off the Caterpillars from our many Box plants for years, trust me, it is an almost impossible task.  Box is a dense plant, there are usually many caterpillars per plant, and their size and camouflage make it very difficult to spot them (especially the young ones).  The mass of webbing they create also make it harder to search the plants.  We ditched all of our Box two years ago.
  
  The adverts for Xen Tari make it sound harmless to everything, except Box Tree Caterpillar (how likely is that?).  Try reading the US Environmental Protection Agency report (online), and you get a more accurate picture.  You can probably assume this for most other insecticides.  Not great to use them in the garden or allotment.  
  
  We visited a local open garden in 2019, where they use pheromone traps.  They are only a mile from us, and we could see no evidence of BTC on their plants, so perhaps that is a much easier option, with potentially successful results.  Perhaps we should have a quiz: Q: Should nurseries still sell Box?

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• Loxley Posts: 5,698

  May 2020

  Xen Tari is 'organic approved' as it is a biological control. But yes it will kill all caterpillars not just box moth and just because something is organic doesn't mean it's good for wildlife.
  
  That said I'd definitely use it in my garden.
  

  "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 

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• lkbbackup Posts: 16

  May 2020

  Jackie-H & KeenOnGreen ... Many thanks for the info... We're not generally keen on insecticides since we're trying to do our bit for bees & bugs etc... but not these bugs 😁... Looks like we're removing & replacing then! Shame; it was just coming along well... C'est la vie... As an aside; we've noticed over the last two years or so that we are seeing more & more bugs that we've never seen before! Maybe we're just being more observant; but my sense is that they are generally migrants! Thanks again. Cheers...

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