Boxwoods (Buxus spp.) are tiny, evergreen shrubs often used as border and hedging plants. Despite their hardiness and adaptability to a wide range of climates, boxwood pests are a regular problem. In some cases, controlling boxwood pests is crucial for the health of the plant. What are the 3 most common pests on boxwood and how can you combat them?
Boxwoods are a popular choice for small to medium-sized hedges because they are easy to care for and thrive in both full sun and partial shade. Even though these trees are easy to care for, they attract a variety of pests.
Pests on boxwood – boxwood moth (Cydalima perspectalis)
The box tree borer is an insect native to the subtropical and temperate zones of Asia that feeds and grows on the box tree. After first appearing in Europe in 2007, it quickly spread across the continent into Western Asia and North Africa. If this voracious pest attacks boxwood, the consequences can be catastrophic. When the borer appears in your garden, you will know it is there. No other garden caterpillar leaves such strange and noticeable symptoms on your beautiful shrubs. The most remarkable thing is that the veins of the leaves are not affected while the tender parts are consumed.
Recognize boxwood moths
Most adult boxwood moths are white with brownish-white markings on the head and abdomen. Their wings are 4 to 4.5 centimeters long and have a thin brown border that is both uneven and slightly iridescent. The wings of some adults are completely dark, while others have a thin white line down the center of the forewing. Each coloration is shown by both sexes.
The newly formed larvae are greenish-yellow in color and have a black head. As they grow older, their bodies develop dark brown stripes. Adult larvae are about 4 centimeters long and have black spots bordered in white all over the body, as well as thin stripes of white and thick black.
Fight boxwood borers
You can fight the boxwood borer with a high-pressure cleaner: Lay a light-colored cloth behind the plant. It's also a good idea to secure the boxwood into the ground with a few large stones. Then spray the boxwood and the caterpillars will land on the prepared cloth. Eliminate them quickly at the end.
Box tree spider mite (Eurytetranychus buxi)
The boxwood mite (Eurytetranychus buxi) is a type of spider mite. The undersides of the leaves are covered with small white or yellow dots as these pests feed on the plants. There is a connection between the use of nitrogen fertilizer and a high incidence of boxwood spider mites.
Recognizing boxwood spider mites
The adults are only about 0.35 - 0.48 mm long, have eight legs and can look green to yellowish-brown. Because of the inconspicuousness of the mites and their early signs, it is easy to ignore the problem until a severe infestation occurs, where the damage is much greater. The pest lays its eggs on the underside of leaves and waits for them to develop in spring. There are eight or more generations of boxwood spider mites each year because they develop and reproduce so quickly. Because of the high rate of reproduction of these pests, it is important to treat boxwoods as early in the growing season as possible. Dry, dusty weather is ideal for mites' peak activity period, which occurs in spring and early summer. A severe infestation can result in complete defoliation.
Fight boxwood spider mites
One possible treatment for boxwood spider mites is to use a jet of water to remove the pests from the plants. Neem oil also works well. In nature there are also many predatory mites, ladybirds and other insects that act as opponents of the mites. Mite populations are often reduced by these predators. It is best to avoid using pesticides unless absolutely necessary, as they destroy both the mites and their predators.
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Buchsbaumblattfloh (Psylla buxi)
The boxwood psyllid is a small, greenish insect.
Recognizing boxwood psyllids
The legs are strong and designed for jumping, and the boxwood psyllids' wings are transparent. They fly or hop away when startled - these insects resemble a small cicada. Both the nymphs, an immature stage of the insect that looks very similar to an adult, and the adults feed by penetrating the leaves and sucking up plant juices.
The nymphs hatch from the eggs in spring. Their bodies are often covered in a white, waxy substance that they produce themselves. The larvae eat buds and immature leaves. The characteristic cupping of the leaves and the stunted development of the branches are consequences of the feeding behavior of this pest.Most plantsrecover from the damage by midsummer.
The adults develop after further development in the spring. An adult female sits behind the scales of a bud and lays her eggs. The developing nymphs spend the winter and spring in the eggs. They emerge in the spring to feed and complete their growth.
Fight boxwood psyllids
Insecticides should only be used for prevention and control in extreme cases of infestation. Aside from being easily eaten by beneficial insects such as spiders, parasitic wasps and lacewings, the psyllid is not known to cause much trouble to boxwood. One strategy for controlling psyllids is to cut off the ends of infected shoots.
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