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Box blight or caterpillar?

samanthajbradyVPr9Ln7IsamanthajbradyVPr9Ln7I Posts: 1
in Problem solving
Hi,

I'm very near to gardening. I have a number of box plants that came with the house. I'm trying to distinguish whether they're damaged by blight or caterpillar. I've read lots of articles but I'm struggling to see the difference from photos in the article. 

Any advice very welcome!

Thanks,

Samantha 

Posts

  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    edited April 2022
    Hello Samantha  :)
    Based on my own experience of box tree caterpillars, l think yours might be blight damage, but as you say it can be very difficult to tell the difference. 
    I think it might be a bit early to check for caterpillars (which l have been doing !), but a lot depends on where you live. One thing is at least they are easy to spot when you pull the branches apart. 

    There is a wealth of knowledge on this forum, so hopefully there will be someone who can say for definite what type of damage it is.
  • KeenOnGreenKeenOnGreen Posts: 1,831
    The two clear signs of Caterpillar is webbing, in which you normally find the Caterpillars hiding, and frass.  Frass is the poo from the Caterpillars, and you will see it as tiny little green balls scattered all over the ground below your plant. If you can't see either of these things, then it's more likely to be blight.
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    It's a good question.
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    Based on my own experience, I would say that's box moth caterpillar damage. 

    As far as I know, blight usually occurs on the top of the hedge, a la Monty Don's box garden hedges. 
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
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