The box tree borer can cause enormous damage to your beloved box tree. Find out in this article how to recognize the infestation and which is the best remedy against box tree borer!
Although small, the box tree borer (Cydalima perspectalis) can cause enormous damage to your box tree and even cause it to die if the infestation goes undetected. Therefore, to deal with this pest, you should have a good knowledge of it. Here we give you useful information about the control and life cycle of the box tree borer.
Boxwood moth – origin and distribution
Although the box tree moth is widespread in Germany, it has only been penetrating Europe in the last 15 years. Its roots lie in East Asia and it arrives on our continent via container ships. The interesting thing about this pest is that it uses humans and their mobility to spread. This is how it gets into your gardens. Unfortunately, there are no natural enemies of the boxwood moth in Europe and it can attack the plants undisturbed. However, there are methods to combat it, but we'll get to that in a moment.
Appearance and life cycle
The juvenile boxwood moth caterpillars are about eight millimeters long and reach a length of about five centimeters before they pupate. They have a green body with light-dark dorsal stripes and a black head. The delta-shaped butterflies are about 40 millimeters wide and 25 millimeters long with their wings spread. Their wings are pale, with distinct brown edges.
The butterfly itself only lives eight to nine days and is not usually found on boxwood but on other plants, but it always lays its eggs on boxwood. The development time of the larvae from egg to pupation is highly dependent on temperature and takes between three and ten weeks. Because of their short lifespan, they waste no time. In a very short time they lay their eggs again and the next generation hatches. From spring to late summer, the insect produces up to four new generations every eight to twelve weeks.
At the end of the year, each boxwood moth caterpillar looks for a protected place in the bush tree, wraps itself in a cocoon made of spider webs and leaves and falls asleep there. The following spring the process described above begins again.
Signs of an infestation
As already mentioned, the traces of a boxwood borer infestation can go unnoticed for a long time. Originally they feed on the leaves of the common boxwood (Buxus sempervirens) and the small-leaved boxwood (Buxus microphylla), and later also on the bark.
However, in this initial stage, the signs of an infestation are usually in the lower part of the tree and can only be seen if you look carefully. Only as the infestation progresses, when the caterpillars penetrate into the interior of the tree, do the injuries caused become more obvious. Clear signs include eaten leaves, traces of feeding on the bark, cobwebs between the shoots and a brownish-yellow discoloration of the plant.
The boxwood borer also leaves behind crumbs of excrement that appear as greenish deposits in the webs. In order to eliminate it quickly, it is therefore important not only to know what it looks like, but also to be able to recognize the signs of an infestation. Find out now which is the best remedy for boxwood borers!
Best remedy against boxwood borer
Fighting boxwood borers naturally is a topic that concerns many amateur and professional gardeners alike. Read here which home remedies you can use to get rid of the pest! It cannot be said clearly which is the best remedy against box tree borers. That's why we have presented two methods here that gardeners describe as extremely successful in the fight against the box tree borer.
Fight boxwood borers with algae lime
An effective home remedy for combating the box tree borer is algae lime. It supports plant health in a natural way - and to the delight of many hobby gardeners, it is also very effective in combating box tree borers. It is also approved for use in organic farming. Algae lime is available commercially as a fine powder that you can sprinkle on infected trees. This significantly reduces the number of caterpillars.
- Notice: Eye lime can also be used as a preventive measure.
Best remedy for boxwood borer – high-pressure cleaner
How can you combat the boxwood borer with home remedies? Use a high-pressure cleaner for this! This is an extremely effective method, but requires skillful preparation.
If you want to fight the boxwood borer with a high-pressure cleaner, spread a light-colored wool cloth behind the plant. It is also advisable to secure the boxwood to the base with a few heavy stones. Then start spritzing it with water from the opposite side of the cloth. This will cause the caterpillars to land on the prepared surface. Throw them away quickly because they are extremely mobile and will immediately try to crawl back into their hiding place.
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