New box tree moth alert for Michigan homeowners and residents
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EmailThis updated alert provides an overview of box tree moth to help residents prepare as this invasive insect continues to spread in Michigan.
Box tree moth (Cydalima perspectalis) is an invasive pest in Michigan that can defoliate and kill boxwood shrubs. Your help in spotting and reporting this pest is critical, especially in areas outside the current quarantine zone. Since first being detected in Michigan in 2022, box tree moth has spread and established itself in a 13-county area in southeastern and central Michigan. Visit the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Eyes in the Field website for current quarantine counties and reporting. Please note that you do not need to report box tree moth sightings within the quarantine counties.
The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development first implemented a quarantine on boxwood shrubs (Buxus spp.) in 2023. The quarantine helps prevent the spread of box tree moth by limiting the transport of boxwood shrubs. Within the regulated quarantine area, growers and retailers must comply with internal quarantine measures and movement of boxwood from inside the regulated area to outside the quarantine zone requires a signed compliance agreement. For homeowners and landscapers, moving any boxwood material is strictly prohibited, including live or dead shrubs, trimmings and debris. No matter where in Michigan you live, you are encouraged to monitor for infestations and dispose of plants properly, according to current regulations.
The updated “Box Tree Moth Alert” includes information on how to identify this invasive pest, as well as options for control and alternative landscaping options for Michigan homeowners and residents. This alert adds to the list of existing Michigan State University Extension resources about box tree moth available at https://www.canr.msu.edu/tag/box-tree-moth.
Download the Box Tree Moth Alert
This work is supported by the Crop Protection and Pest Management Program [grant no 2024-70006-43569] from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.