Alert! Report Box Tree Moth Now - NY Agriculture Department Seeks Residents' Help

The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets has issued an urgent warning about the Box Tree Moth, an invasive pest that poses a significant threat to boxwood plants, a valuable part of the nursery and horticultural industry. Recent findings of the pest near the Canadian border in Niagara County have prompted the Department to increase survey and trapping efforts along Lake Ontario.

To combat the spread of the Box Tree Moth, the Department is seeking help from residents. They are urged to report any sightings of the pest to aid inspectors in assessing affected areas and curbing its spread in New York State.

State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball stressed the importance of public assistance in minimizing the spread of this invasive pest, which can cause extensive damage to boxwood plants. He encouraged residents to check their plants for Box Tree Moth damage and report it immediately.

Inspectors from the Department will visit residential properties along Lake Ontario in Cayuga, Oswego, and Jefferson counties, with permission from landowners, to set traps for Box Tree Moth. Homeowners are also asked to be vigilant and report signs of infestation.

The Department has established a quarantine in Niagara, Erie, and Orleans counties to manage the spread of the Box Tree Moth. The quarantine restricts the sale and movement of boxwood to areas outside the quarantine zone and requires sales records to be maintained for inspection.

In collaboration with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Department has been working on managing the Box Tree Moth. The USDA has been trapping for the pest at the leading edge of the quarantine.

Recognizing Box Tree Moth larvae is crucial for early detection. They are green and yellow with distinctive stripes and spots. Signs of damage include chewed, cut, or missing leaves, yellowing or browning, white webbing, and green-black excrement around the plant. Infested plants can eventually die.

The adult Box Tree Moths have white bodies with a brown head and abdomen. Their wings are white with a brown border. Some adults have completely brown wings with small white streaks.

Property owners can contact their local Cornell Cooperative Extension office for information on managing infestations. Timely reporting and proactive measures are vital to protect New York's valuable boxwood plants from this invasive threat.

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