Be on the Lookout: Invasive Box Tree Moth

There’s a new pest headed our way! Known as the box tree moth, the larvae of this East Asian moth (Cydalima perspectalis) defoliate boxwoods (Buxus spp.) and may then eat their bark, potentially killing the plants. After spreading to Europe, these pests were first found in Toronto, Canada in 2018 and are spreading throughout North America.

First detected in the US in 2021 in New York, as of early 2026 they have been found in
Connecticut, Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania,
South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia. If box tree moths are found in Western North Carolina, there could be multiple generations of these invasive pests, most active between April and October.

Do you have boxwoods in your landscape?
If you grow boxwoods, early detection of the box tree moth is key to preventing damage.
Although the box tree moth larvae or pupae may be seen on nearby plants, there is no evidence at this time that they are a threat to anything other than boxwoods. If you are unsure if you have boxwoods, this guide, by Michigan State University Extension was devised to help gardeners to distinguish boxwoods from other similar shrubs.

What do box tree moths look like?

• The moths themselves have a wingspan of 1.6 to 1.8 inches across and are active at
  night—they have two color variations, the most common is white wings with brown
  borders; less common is brown wings. Both variations have a small white streak in the top of the wings. Each moth generation lives only about two weeks.
• Eggs deposited on the underside of boxwood leaves hatch in a few days, changing from a pale yellow to yellow with dark spots as the larvae heads form.
• Late season larvae overwinter in silky webbing on the boxwood leaves and begin to feed in March and April. Young larvae are yellow to green with black heads, developing brown stripes and then thick black stripes, thin white stripes, and white-outlined black spots as they reach their full length of about 1.6 inches.
• Pupae form about two weeks after feeding begins, attaching to damaged leaves with more webbing. In about another two weeks the next generation of moths emerge.

Scouting for box tree moths
If you do have boxwoods, the USDA has produced an excellent video on scouting for these pests on your boxwoods: USDA Video: Checking out your boxwoods

What can you do?
Pesticides cannot prevent box tree moth infestations. This invasive insect is the only pest that defoliates boxwood in North America. It has not yet been found in North Carolina, but early detection is critical to protect North Carolina’s nurseries and landscapes. If you find evidence of box tree moths, please collect a specimen, take photos and report to the USDA at badbug@ncagr.gov.

If there are caterpillars on your plants, you can handpick and place them in soapy water or use insecticidal soap or horticultural oil—especially on the undersides of leaves. Be sure to follow all label instructions to avoid damaging your shrubs. Never use “home remedies” or place infested materials in your compost. Remove and destroy any heavily damaged boxwoods; double bag in plastic and dispose of in trash.

Article by Debbie Green, Extension Master Gardener^SM Volunteer

For more information:

USDA: Plant Pest—Box Tree Moth
University of Maryland—Box Tree Moth

Boxwood alternatives:

Video: Alternatives to Boxwoods by Charlotte Glenn, NCSU
Cornell University Fact Sheets: Box Tree Moth/Alternatives to Boxwoods