Pest
Box Tree Moth
| Überblick | |
|---|---|
| Latin name | Cydalima perspectalis |
| Host plants | Box tree |
| Appearance | Up to 5 cm long and green caterpillars with black spots and fine white hairs. The head is black. The wings of the moth are silvery white with a brown hem and reach a wingspan of about 40 mm. |
| Time of Infestation | March to October |
The caterpillars of the box tree moth begin their feeding inside the tree and are therefore often only noticed when immense damage has already occurred. Young caterpillars usually eat only the uppermost leaf layer, while adult caterpillars eat both the leaves and the bark of the shoots, leaving only the leaf veins. This causes the areas above to die.
The females of the box tree moth deposit their eggs well hidden inside the box tree plants. After a period of only a few days the larvae hatch and start feeding on leaves and twigs of the box tree. The larvae grow up to a length of 5 cm passing through several larval stages. During this time the damage suffered by the box tree can lead to its premature demise. After a feasting period of 1 to 3 months, the larvae pupate to be succeeded within one week by the full-grown adult box tree moth which restarts the described circle above. Between 3 and 4 generations of box tree moth can develop over the course of one season. The generation gap is 4 to 6 weeks and depends on the prevailing climatic conditions. The box tree is threatened continuously throughout the May to October period. The final generation larvae hibernate inside the box tree and start to feed again for the first time in the next March.
Monitoring the Development of the Box Tree Moth with TRIPHERON®Traps
The beginning of the flight activity of the moths can be detected by pheromone traps. Pheromone traps intercept the male moths and can thus partially reduce the fertilization of the females and thus the deposit of eggs. They should be hung up from May onwards. At the beginning of the flight activity, the beginning of larval hatching and thus the necessary treatment time can be calculated.
Control of the Box Tree Moth with the Biological Insecticide NeemAzal® -T/S
In order to get rid of the caterpillars of the box tree moth, which start eating in March, treatment with NeemAzal®-T/S with a 0.5% treatment solution can be carried out as early as March at a temperature of 15° C.
NeemAzal®-T/S can be obtained from specialist crop protection retailers. Please contact our distribution partners. A certificate of expertise is required.
Our natural insecticide is available for use in the home and garden sector under the brand names of our partners in many garden centers and specialist retailers. Find more information here.