Insecticide Options for Box Tree Moth Management

Insecticide Options for Box Tree Moth Management

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April 14, 2023 - Steven Frank, North Carolina State University; Dan Gilrein, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County; Matthew Havers, IR-4 Project, Rutgers University; Cristi Palmer, IR-4 Project, Rutgers University

This fact sheet contains a preliminary list of insecticide options for managing box tree moth in nurseries and landscapes. Since its discovery in Europe, very few insecticides have been evaluated for efficacy against box tree moth since most are not permitted for use on ornamental horticulture plants in Europe. Following is a selection of active ingredients found in commercial products labeled for caterpillar management likely to be effective against box tree moth. A few of these are also found in home garden formulations.

The box tree moth, Cydalima perspectalis, feeds primarily on boxwoods (Buxus spp.) though it has been reported on a few other hosts (Euonymus, Ilex, Murraya). It is native to China, Korea, and other parts of Asia. Box tree moth was introduced into Europe in 2007 and rapidly spread across the continent, and in 2018 it was found in Ontario, Canada, the first detection in North America. Box tree moth is not known to be established in the US, but the risk of introduction is high. Moths can fly over two miles, and moths or caterpillars could travel on plants shipped across the border.

Box tree moths are up to 4 cm and have two color morphs. The morph seen in Canada has white wings with brown borders. The brown morph also found in Europe is almost entirely dark brown with characteristic white specks on the forewings. Males can be monitored with pheromone traps. Caterpillars are up to 2 cm and yellow to lime green with dark stripes. They eat boxwood leaves and bark and can quickly defoliate and even kill large hedges.

Caterpillars also create unsightly webbing and frass within plant canopies which protects them from predators and could reduce spray coverage and insecticide efficacy.

Many insecticides (Table 1) are labeled for control of caterpillars. Some broad-spectrum materials, such as some pyrethroids and carbaryl, may flare spider mites or other pests. Note label cautions concerning environmental and non-target risks.

Table 1. A selection of insecticides labeled for caterpillar management in nursery and/or landscape sites where boxwoods are grown. Re-entry intervals (REI) apply to production (nursery, greenhouse) uses.

Active	IRAC MOA	Example products1	Notes
Azadirachtin	UK	Azatin O, Azatrol, others	Use site varies by product. Available in organic-compatible formulations. Biopesticide. Most have 4 hour REI.
Carbaryl	1A	Sevin, Carbaryl	Broad spectrum, harmful to beneficial insects, may cause secondary pest outbreaks. 12-hour REI.
Acephate	1B	Orthene, Acephate	Only certain caterpillars on the label. Broad spectrum, harmful to beneficials, may cause secondary pest outbreaks. 24-hour REI.
Bifenthrin	3A	OnyxPro, Talstar, others	Broad spectrum, harmful to beneficials, may cause secondary pest outbreaks. Most products 12 hour REI.
Cyfluthrin, beta- cyfluthrin	3A	Decathlon, Tempo, others	Broad spectrum, harmful to beneficials, may cause secondary pest outbreaks. Most products 12 hour REI.
Lambda- cyhalothrin	3A	Scimitar, others	Broad spectrum, harmful to beneficials, may cause secondary pest outbreaks. Most products 24 hour REI.
Deltamethrin	3A	Suspend	Broad spectrum, harmful to beneficials, may cause secondary pest outbreaks. Most products 12 hour REI.
Fenpropathrin	3A	Tame	Broad spectrum, harmful to beneficials, may cause secondary pest outbreaks. Few caterpillars labeled on ornamentals. Most products 24 hour REI.
Tau-fluvalinate	3A	Mavrik	Broad spectrum, harmful to beneficials, may cause secondary pest outbreaks. For container nursery stock, outdoor plantings, greenhouse use. Most products 12 hour REI.
Permethrin	3A	Astro, Perm-Up	Broad spectrum, harmful to beneficials, may cause secondary pest outbreaks. Most products 12 hour REI.
Pyrethrins	3A	Tersus, Pyganic, others	Broad spectrum, harmful to beneficials, may cause secondary pest outbreaks. Most products 12 hour REI. Some organic-compatible products available.
Acetamiprid	4A	TriStar, others	Verify efficacy for target caterpillars. Low toxicity to honey bees used alone. Acetamiprid is used for sucking insects and boxwood leafminer. EPA reduced-risk for ornamentals. 12-hr REI.
Spinosad	5	Conserve, Entrust, others	Used for caterpillars in greenhouses, nurseries, landscapes. Works on contact and through ingestion. Homeowner formulations available. Entrust is organic-compatible. 4-hr REI.
Spinetoram + sulfoxaflor	5 + 4C	XXpire	For use in greenhouses and nurseries but not landscapes. Not registered in NY or CA. 12-hr REI.
Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki and B. t. aizawai	11	Dipel Pro DF, Javelin, Deliver (Btk); XenTari, Agree (Bta); others	Bt kurstaki products are used in Europe for BTM management and appear to be effective. Must be ingested; apply when caterpillars are actively feeding. Biopesticide. 4-hr REI.
Diflubenzuron	15	Dimilin 4L, Adept	Use site varies by product. Labeled only for certain caterpillars and other pests. 12-hour REI.
Tebufenozide	18	Confirm	For Christmas trees. EPA reduced-risk for ornamentals. 4-hour REI.
Methoxyfenozide	18	Intrepid	Not for use in NY. Labeled for certain caterpillars. 4-hour REI.
Indoxacarb	22A	Provaunt	For landscape use only.
Chlorantraniliprole	28	Acelepryn	Foliar spray for caterpillars (systemic use for clearwing borers). Nursery, greenhouse & landscape use. Relatively low toxicity for bees and workers. EPA reduced-risk for ornamentals. No signal word on the Acelepryn label. 4-hr REI
Cyantraniliprole	28	Mainspring GNL	Foliar spray or systemic drench for caterpillars in greenhouses, nurseries, landscapes. No outdoor uses in NY. EPA reduced-risk for nursery & greenhouse ornamentals. Note bee advisory. 4-hr REI
Cyclaniliprole	28	Sarisa	Can be used in greenhouses, nurseries; not for residential use. Note bee advisory. Flonicamid combination broadens efficacy for aphids, psyllids and other sucking insects. 4-hr REI
Cyclaniliprole + flonicamid	28 + 29	Pradia

1Products listed are examples for informational purposes and are not recommendations. There may be other formulations and generics. Verify product registration, uses, restrictions, and pollinator warnings before applying. More information here: https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/southeastern-us-pest-control-guide-for-nursery-crops-and-landscape-plantings.

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MSU Extension Integrated Pest Management