Box (Buxus) moth - trap now

[Phil Pascoe]

Not box, but the gooseberry sawfly caterpillars are out in force.

 

[TrimTheKing]

Not box, but the gooseberry sawfly caterpillars are out in force.

We had a beautiful fir shrub absolutely decimated in the space of 2 weeks, a couple of years back, before I knew what it was and what was happening. Last year I got out early and caught them, there were loads and it took me a couple of hours to clear them off. This year I've found 4 clusters only (two years ago at least 60-80 clusters!!!) and cleared them, so hopefully this will be the last year of having to clear them, or at least in bulk.

I think mine are a different species of sawfly, but this is what I find on the ends of branches, and that many can strip every single needle off there in the space of 24h!

 

[Lurker]

I know nothing about dealing with these various caterpillars, but would a blast with a pressure washer do any good?
Or do they regroup?
Why don’t birds have a feast?

 

[TrimTheKing]

I know nothing about dealing with these various caterpillars, but would a blast with a pressure washer do any good?
Or do they regroup?
Why don’t birds have a feast?

Yeah blasting them off is an option, but last time I tried that I did find a bunch of the little feckers had made their way back through the grass and crawling up the trunk again! I just bend the afflicted bought down over a bucket held by a child helper, and flick the feckers off into the bucket, then drown them!

And good question re the birds because that shrub is a regular haunt for our resident pair of Robin/s, and all the local Tits, so I'd expect them to have them away!

 

[AJB Temple]

A blast with a jet was only really helps with the ones that form webs, such as the box moth. In most cases the caterpillars are underneath the leaf not on top and so difficult to get at with a jet wash. Birds do eat them, but generally the fact that they are well camouflaged and beneath the leaves tends to protect them. Also birds do not like eating hairy insects generally.

We spotted numerous live box moth caterpillars last week and sprayed immediately with the product I referred to above and this has stopped them in their tracks.

 

[AndyP]

it might be a little early for putting out the traps but I thought I had better clean out last years catch. The trap has been siting in the barn since the autumn

I've some of the pheromone cartridges left over from last year which I note state store below 10c which they weren't . I'll order some more JIC.

 

[TrimTheKing]

I need to find mine! It blow off the wall last year and I'm pretty sure it's in a bush, but I nee to go and find it, or oder new...

 

[AJB Temple]

We are ready

 

[Accipiter]

Not had box moth issues but have had sawfly... one day the tree/shrub has leaves the next almost nothing and the little *blanks* freeze so they hope to fool you to think they are the leaves...

The other bug I've had problems with is Vine Weevil, mainly the grubs. Usually decimate the roots of plants in pots/containers - not helpful with bonsai. I endeavour to treat with one or other Vine Weevil killer. If you've container grown plants not doing well then I'd recommend treating for Vine Weevil.

 

[TrimTheKing]

Not had box moth issues but have had sawfly... one day the tree/shrub has leaves the next almost nothing and the little *blanks* freeze so they hope to fool you to think they are the leaves...

The other bug I've had problems with is Vine Weevil, mainly the grubs. Usually decimate the roots of plants in pots/containers - not helpful with bonsai. I endeavour to treat with one or other Vine Weevil killer. If you've container grown plants not doing well then I'd recommend treating for Vine Weevil.

Grrrrr, I've had issues with Sawfly for the past 3 years or so and the only way I've found to get rid is to find the clumps of them and bashing them off into a bucket! Have you found anything that kills them?

 

[Accipiter]

Grrrrr, I've had issues with Sawfly for the past 3 years or so and the only way I've found to get rid is to find the clumps of them and bashing them off into a bucket! Have you found anything that kills them?

Not yet sadly. I've just cut back the branches and put the debris into a garden trug to then tip into the garden waste at the recycling centre. I've a goldfish pond will sometimes drop the grubs/'pillers into the pond for the fish but I'm not certain the fish benefit from such. Also if not eaten by the fish they'll decompose at the bottom of the pond. At least at the recycling centre they get buried in amongst all the other waste (grass cuttings and such) to then get composted. I do give the trees/shrubs a spraying of Winter Tree Wash twice a year - which may be helpful to try to control them?

 

[Phil]

We do not have your Box Moth problem, but instead a Zerenopsis lepida moth which can destroy a Cycad and Cycas in virtually one day.

https://africanmoths.com/pages/GEOMETRIDAE/ENNOMINAE/Zerenopsis lepida.html

On the Cycads and Cycas they go for the new leaves but can destroy a Cycas mature leaves as well. The plants looks quite ‘sick’.
I spray with Knoxworm, the same stuff used on the Clivias for the Amarilla worm. It can destroy a Clivia in a day if not detected.

Some pics of the pest.









{Edit} The pics were from 'somewhere' downloaded to show the kids.

 

[Phil]

Every afternoon at 16:00 I leave the study and head for the garage.
First thing is a walk around the garden checking the Cycads.

At the multi-head plant there was this yellow flying piece of SH1T!
Fetched the poison spray bottle and dealt with it.
Also sprayed all the leaves and the new growth.

Moved on to the large one in the garden, the one leaf looked damaged(?) and closer inspection saw the worms about 10mm long.
Sprayed poison and they all started abseiling down the side of the pot. More spray.
It should be noted that this is not new growth, but from last year.
We had rain overnight so I will spray again this afternoon.

This is the damage in 24 hours.


And if you look closely the worms on the side of the pot.

 

[TrimTheKing]

Which poison Phil?

 

[Phil]

Mark, Knoxworm.

I have heard other residents talk about "blue death", not seen it.
I have also used ant poison for the worms.

For the ants:
1 X 2 litre Coke
1 X half jack brandy
Mix and drink
The half jack can be skipped

Take empty Coke bottle, make small hole in cap, pour in a couple ml poison, fill up with water.
Easy to pour into ant hole, between the paving and house bricks.
With all the rain, they start moving accommodation and sometimes invade the house.

 

[duke]

In our area, Tent Caterpillars are a problem. They can eat the foliage of a tree in a few days. When the cycle hits us I will simply hose the smaller trees and shrubs so that they fall to the ground then I stomp on them. But this is ongoing for a week or so.
The key is to remove and destroy their tent in the branches before they start feeding.

 

[Phil]

Scott, their tent, is it spun like a spider web?

Not seen something like that here.

 

[duke]

 

[Jonathan]

In the south of Spain we have something that looks similar, the Pine processionary caterpillars.
They will destroy a pine tree, their hairs are an irritant so you can’t easily destroy the nest.

 

[Phil]

View attachment 39752

Scott, is there no sort of 'non-poison' that you could spray with?

 

[duke]

Usually when the infestation starts they feed on numerous trees that are of importance to us. I have found the best way is to hose them out of the trees then stamp on them. Usually twice daily for a week. Often the trees in the forest will recover and se new leaf buds.
I am sure there is a product available but I haven't looked onto it.