a day ago
Invasive box tree moth doing "serious damage" to common shrubs on Cape Cod, county says
Gardeners on Cape Cod are warned to be on the lookout for an invasive pest. Barnstable County said in a recent advisory to residents that the box tree moth is damaging shrubs in several Massachusetts towns.
The moth, which is native to Asia, was first spotted on the Cape in 2023.
"Since then, it has caused serious damage to boxwoods in parts of the Upper and Mid Cape," the advisory stated.
The county said boxwoods "are one of the most common ornamental shrubs used in Cape Cod landscaping." The box tree moth caterpillars eat the leaves and can strip the entire boxwood bare, killing the plant.
The young caterpillars are green with black heads. They spin silk webs to hold leaves together as they feed, according to UMass researchers.
The town of Brewster said a state inspector recently confirmed an infestation of the moths.
The county says homeowners should keep an eye out for silk webs inside their boxwoods, as well as insect waste, brown or chewed leaves, and thinner-looking shrubs.
"If you see these signs, it's time to act fast," the advisory states.
Any sightings of the box tree moth should be reported to the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources.
Heavily infested shrubs have to be destroyed. Gardeners can bury the plants or seal them in plastic bags and leave them in the sun so the moths die.
Treating the shrubs with pesticides can also help prevent infestation. And if the moths do destroy your boxwood, experts recommend replacing them with shrubs that insects don't eat, such as inkberry holly, Japanese holly, bayberry or plum yew.
