Box tree moth found in Kent County

DOVER — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has confirmed that a box tree moth has been discovered in Kent County.

Such species, which can grow to 1.5 inches, will start as lime-green with black stripes, white spots, hair and a shiny black head. They then create a large amount of webbing on a plant. They are ravenous feeders and, in heavy infestations, can completely defoliate host plants. After the leaves are gone, they feed on the bark, eventually killing the plant.

Adult box tree moths generally have white wings with thick brown borders. Adults can be hard to find, as they are most active at night.

“Box tree moth is an unexpected find in Delaware due to the distance from the only known U.S. detections in New York, Michigan, Ohio and Massachusetts, with the original introduction in New York in 2021,” said Jessica Munski, the Delaware Department of Agriculture’s plant industries administrator.

“The aggressive, destructive nature of the caterpillar life stage makes it essential to take quick action as soon as damage is detected because defoliation can occur within 10 days.”

Agriculture officials said the caterpillars feed on boxwood species. They recommend monitoring boxwoods and cutting down the plant at its base if infected. Potential finds should be reported to the Delaware Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners helplines (302-831-8862 in New Castle County, 302-730-4000 in Kent County and 302-831-3389 in Sussex County).