Box Tree Moths

[dhg]

Anyone else having a problem with these things this summer? They have destroyed 2 of our boxwood plants that we've had for years. Nursery said they have been a big problem this year. They're very invasive. The larvae eat the plant. The moths don't do much. Bought insecticide. Fingers crossed, but probably pulling the boxwoods. They are that bad. Worried they'll start destroying other plants

 

[Sojourner]

Luckily not but I hear pheromone traps are a wonder to get rid of them. Our vegetable patches we plant peppermint and spearmint plants around which is a treat to keep those pesky bugs away. 
 

My wife recently had a friend of ours who was in a tough spot move in and she brought larder beetles with her. Diatomaceous earth did wonders to get rid of them. Still a pain though. 
 

 

[T&C]

50 minutes ago, dhg said:

Anyone else having a problem with these things this summer? They have destroyed 2 of our boxwood plants that we've had for years. Nursery said they have been a big problem this year. They're very invasive. The larvae eat the plant. The moths don't do much. Bought insecticide. Fingers crossed, but probably pulling the boxwoods. They are that bad. Worried they'll start destroying other plants

 

Spray them with Neem oil...

[Sojourner]

Just now, T&C said:

Spray them with Neem oil...

I’ve had hit or miss results with neem oil. 
 

The exact same dilution caused yellowing/browning on leaves and others, of the same strain of crop it did nothing. 
 

Glad you’ve found it to be successful!

[EmotionallyUnstable]

Yes same.

 

Noticed it on two adult plants and went with some insecticide. Seems to have curbed them but I should have sprayed them all, as I missed one on the other side of the house that is now completely gone. 
 

We’re going to waive until Spring and see what we’ve got and will likely replace. Unfortunate because they’re 4 ft tall 3 ft wide. 
 

Its always something! 

[T&C]

1 hour ago, Sojourner said:

I’ve had hit or miss results with neem oil. 
 

The exact same dilution caused yellowing/browning on leaves and others, of the same strain of crop it did nothing. 
 

Glad you’ve found it to be successful!

To be fair, it always does the job here but there are also hundreds of the small brown anoles here who take down anything that moves.. other than ants. Gecko's too... 

[US Egg]

My boxwoods were turning brown and dropping leaves, thought it was from being so warm and dry. Sprayed with Sevin, next day there was yellow dust like piles of larvae literally around all of them with small green caterpillar mixed in. Then put BioAdvanced Tree and Shrub Protect and Feed as told by the nursery. It’s been two weeks, they seem to have stopped. The houses at the top of the street who have boxwoods have died and as you go down the street it lessens, that I live at the end was apparently fortunate.

[dpberr]

You could try a soil drench.  This particular product was my go-to when battling lanternflies a few years ago.  

[Pete]

I did Pest Control for awhile, and it was my favorite job I ever had.  

 

 

This is how we treated Box Elder Moths

You can treat the BoxElder with Suspend,  Follow the label which ratio to Treat for Elder Bugs in Tree

 

https://www.solutionsstores.com/suspend-polyzone?sku=BAYE28&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=1033090939&gclid=Cj0KCQjwndHEBhDVARIsAGh0g3C1oaToYbWH-m4YQT02gVACsnasqXlRNazNqFiVdRUMFsu4Hk1je3MaAvcPEALw_wcB#156=894

Edited 3 hours ago by Pete

[dhg]

14 hours ago, EmotionallyUnstable said:

Yes same.

 

Noticed it on two adult plants and went with some insecticide. Seems to have curbed them but I should have sprayed them all, as I missed one on the other side of the house that is now completely gone. 
 

We’re going to waive until Spring and see what we’ve got and will likely replace. Unfortunate because they’re 4 ft tall 3 ft wide. 
 

Its always something! 

Ours are pretty much same size. Destroyed.  They might recover but probably going to end up pulling them.