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Box caterpillar

bédébédé Posts: 3,095
edited April 2022 in Problem solving
Quite a common problem, but a lot of posts to search through.  If this has been been dealt with recently, please tell me how to find the thread.

Basically, on inspection of my many box plants last season. I found no pests.  A the end of the season a number had damaged leaves and now this is very obvious - dead-looking white and eaten leaves.  But a thorough inspection can find no caterpillars, although they are supposed to be active from March.

Any solutions?
 location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
"Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
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Posts

  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    edited April 2022
    I have had a quick look but can't find the thread at first glance.
    Edited to add, try this one
    https://forum.gardenersworld.com/discussion/comment/2390113#Comment_2390113

    Speaking as someone who had damage caused by this l would say try nematodes. Mine are on order for delivery next month.
    The caterpillars haven't appeared as yet (South West Midlands), but my OH has been checking for the last three weeks. One thing is they are easy to spot, but you need to move fast as they seem to have the knack of disappearing very quickly. 

    A hedgehog was spotted on my night camera showing a very keen interest in one hedge and practically disappearing inside it. I contacted the Hedgehog Preservation Society and they thought it was highly likely he (?) was searching for caterpillars. 

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Is this the thread @AnniD ... it's the most recent I can find ... although the heading is Box Blight it certainly morphs into dealing with Box caterpillar 

    https://forum.gardenersworld.com/discussion/1059170/is-this-box-blight/p4

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    I think parasitic wasps have been trialled and are proving successful.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    I think there are a couple @Dovefromabove :). Those two should cover enough information l think.

     To be honest, if it were up to me l would have taken the majority of our box plants out (l did remove one section). I have bought nematodes to use on one section right outside the back door, OH has decided to leave the rest and see what happens. If nothing else, it will act as a good trial. 
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    edited April 2022
    Thanks everyone, I will keep a frequent look-out.  I'm not averse to giving the plants a dose of bug-killer.  I would prefer to give a targeted dose of rape oil emulsion with washingup liquid, but if I cant' find the caterpillars, I may have to resort to an overall systemic spray.

    I wouldn't like to be without my box - nothing quite like it for partères and topiary (though mine only large balls).
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    I paid a visit to my neighbour's front garden just across the road yesterday to offer some advice (requested l might add !). His box plants were in a right state from last year, he thought it was blight but l knew it was the dreaded caterpillars and after a quick search l found one.

    I came back and told OH who did another search of our front garden plants. He couldn't find any, but l'm sure it's only a matter of time. 
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Not suitable unless you have a few acres, but infestations of caterpillars in your shrubs and meat and drink to Guinea fowl … so if you’re not averse to keeping a slightly eccentric type of poultry, you might consider keeping two or three. Marvellous security guards too … they’ll perch in a hedgerow or tree and will be  alert all night and create a racket if a fox, badger or perhaps even deer invade their territory … and they don’t scratch at the flower beds and destroy your plants like chickens. 

    “… One great benefit to guinea fowl is their effective organic pest control. Guineas can almost wipe out populations of insects like ticks, grasshoppers, caterpillars, spiders, and scorpions. They even eat snakes and garden slugs! Luckily, they do all of this without scratching at the ground or pecking at plants as chickens will do...” https://www.heritageacresmarket.com/guinea-fowl/

    I used to have half a dozen when we were on the smallholding. Loved ‘em 😊 



    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,043
    I had them too when I lived in Kent, then the fox paid a visit  :'(
    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Ours used to sit in the bullace tree and shriek at the fox as she stood beneath and looked up at them. 😂 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    Sounds just the job for @Punkdoc!
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
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