Box tree caterpillar is latest pest with potential to devastate UK gardens

DEESIDE, Wales - Aug. 27, 2015 - PRLog -- The Box tree caterpillar is reportedly spreading from its once limited location in London, experts say, and is likely to establish across the UK.

Entomologists are receiving multiple reports of the Cydalima perspectalis caterpillar in gardens daily. The larvae, or caterpillars as they are commonly known, are ravenous feeders that can completely destroy the Box plant (Buxus).

The Royal Horticultural Society are urging gardeners to get in touch if damage to box plants is observed, as Box plants are not usually damaged by other pests, and so any extensive defoliation is likely a result of the Box tree caterpillar.

Box plants are a common hedgerow feature for topiary in many British gardens and have been for over a century. Avid gardeners are finding that in a matter of days their highly prized Box plant sculptures are reduced to bare branches.

Dr Nayem Hassan of Russell IPM Ltd, a leading UK manufacturer of biorational insect traps and monitoring systems, stated that ‘the best solution here is prevention. We must urge gardeners to be vigilant and keep an eye on susceptible plants.’

‘We have developed a Box tree caterpillar pheromone lure that will attract the pest to traps for monitoring, this will allow you to detect a problem before it becomes serious and to prevent irreparable damage being done.’

Pheromones are chemical signals released by insects in order to communicate with one another. The chemicals are used by the insects for a number of behaviours such as attracting a mate or alerting others to a food source.

These nature identical chemicals appear to be the most successful means of prevention and monitoring of the Box caterpillar, as the silken web cocoon spun by the larvae can be difficult for pesticides to penetrate and so often have little effect - meaning prevention is better than cure in most cases.

For more information contact Russell IPM at marketing@russellipm.com or call 01244281333.

Source: BBC news and RHS