10/13/2026
🚨🪲BUG WATCH: BOX TREE MOTH (Cydalima perspectalis)🪲🚨
The Box Tree Moth is an invasive pest native to East Asia. It spread through Europe before being detected in the United States in 2021, likely arriving through the movement of infested nursery plants.
📍 WHERE HAS IT BEEN FOUND?
U.S. detections have been reported in states including New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Ohio, Michigan, Massachusetts, Kentucky, and West Virginia.
With detections in neighboring Virginia, North Carolina needs to stay alert! Infested boxwood plants transported through nurseries, garden centers, and landscaping trades could bring this pest into our state.
🔎 WHAT SHOULD YOU LOOK FOR?
• Green caterpillars with black stripes and white markings.
• Chewed or skeletonized boxwood leaves.
• Fine webbing and small droppings around shrubs.
• White moths with brown borders on their wings.
These hungry caterpillars can strip boxwood shrubs of their foliage and potentially kill them.
DO THINK YOU’VE FOUND ONE?📣
✅ Take clear photos of the insect and plant damage.
✅ Note the location where you found it.
✅ Report your suspected sighting to the North Carolina Department of Agriculture.
🚫 Don’t move potentially infested plants or plant debris. Contact officials before treating or destroying the plant.
🌱 Early detection matters!
Homeowners, gardeners, landscapers, and nursery professionals can all help prevent invasive pests from spreading.
Let’s keep our eyes open and help protect North Carolina’s landscapes! 💚
