In 2007, an infestation with the box tree moth was reported for the first time. The butterfly, which was probably imported from East Asia with plant imports, lays its eggs exclusively on the box tree, which its caterpillars, which often sit in hundreds on a plant, then eat bare. The pests are difficult to fight, in many cases only the chemical club helps. Before you start using these, try one of the following non-toxic home remedies first.
The boxwood caterpillar causes great damage
dense networks
The box tree moth overwinters as an egg in a protective web inside the box tree. With the rising spring temperatures, the larvae hatch and immediately start eating. The first moths appear around May and prefer to lay their eggs on box trees that are not yet infested. You can protect these in turn by draping close-meshed nets over them - this makes it impossible for the moth to lay eggs and thus the next generation. However, since around two to three generations develop each year, the web would need to remain in place continuously between early March and late September. Of course, that doesn't look very appealing.
Pressure washer / vacuum cleaner
During the "borer season" between March and September, it is advisable to regularly check existing box trees for caterpillars and eggs. You should carefully pull apart the bushes and hedges and take a look inside, as the animals prefer to stay in the dark. In the event of a caterpillar infestation, cover the ground around the affected boxwood with foil or a tarpaulin and use the high-pressure cleaner. (119.90€) With this you blow or rinse the pests out of the plant and then you only need them Pick up the pad with them and dispose of it. Alternatively, mechanical removal also works with a leaf blower or a vacuum cleaner. For the latter, you would need a joint attachment with which you can vacuum the animals in a very targeted manner. But beware: the caterpillars are surprisingly quick as soon as they perceive vibrations. In addition, this measure must be repeated frequently, as it can always come back to a new infestation.
Remove caterpillars with the high-pressure cleaner - this is how it works:
- Cover the floor with foil, fleece or a tarpaulin
- weigh them down with stones or similar
- Treat plants with high-pressure cleaner (or other suitable device).
- make sure that the caterpillars all land on the surface (and not in the grass or similar).
- Collect animals after just a few meters and often
- These can otherwise escape and infest the box trees again
algae lime
It has been known since 2016 that algae lime - a substance that is actually used for fertilizing and soil improvement - is an excellent help against the box tree moth. In order to prevent or contain an infestation, however, you must dust all box trees with algae lime. This is not only visually unappealing, but also causes other problems:
- The leaves dusted with lime are no longer fully capable of photosynthesis.
- Algal lime clogs the stomata so that shoot growth is inhibited.
- The pH of the soil becomes unbalanced with frequent use.
- As a result, the absorption of nutrients becomes more difficult.
- The impact on the local insect and bird life has not yet been adequately researched.
In view of these findings, the use of algae lime should be carefully considered. However, if the infestation pressure is very high and you cannot control the plague in any other way, the remedy is a good remedy. It also ensures that no new caterpillars hatch from eggs that have already been laid.
Opaque garbage bag
This method only works on hot and sunny days:
- Put a large, opaque plastic bag over an infested box in the morning.
- Trash bags are great for this.
- The cover should remain on the shrub until evening.
- Heat builds up under the garbage bag, which kills the borer caterpillars.
- The Buchs, on the other hand, usually survives the treatment without consequences.
- Collect the caterpillars in the evening and discard them.
In order to have lasting success with the treatment, you should repeat it at regular intervals. The eggs do not die from the heat, so new caterpillars can be found on the plant after a few days or weeks. However, over time you reduce the infestation pressure, since fewer caterpillars also mean fewer egg-laying moths.
tips
From March, hang yellow boards or pheromone traps in the trees and shrubs around box plantations. Although these do not reduce the moth population, they clearly show you the presence of the pests. If the first moths are caught, you can take immediate action.