Thorough spray coverage is required if control is to be achieved Extensive populations can be treated with an insecticide.If chemical controls are used, they should be used only in a minimal and highly targeted manner. The RHS believes that avoiding pests, diseases and weeds by good practice in cultivation methods, cultivar selection, garden hygiene and encouraging or introducing natural enemies, should be the first line of control. Consider choosing alternatives to box plants (see below).It is not yet clear if this predation will result in a reduction of box tree moth numbers There have been reports of garden birds including blackbirds, starlings, magpies and tits feeding on the caterpillars in some locations.The caterpillars have a range of natural enemies, including parasitoid flies, parasitoid wasps, social wasps, spiders and ants.The mixed nematode biological control sold as Fruit and Vegetable Protection has some effect on the caterpillars.These are available from several suppliers including Agralan, Dragonfli and Solabiol Pheromone traps, can indicate whether there are moths in the area and their level of activity.Where practical, caterpillars should be removed by hand.Within this group, the shorter persistence pesticides (that are usually certified for organic growing) are likely to be less damaging to non-target wildlife than those with longer persistence and/or systemic action. If this is not sufficient to reduce the damage to acceptable levels then you may choose to use pesticides. When choosing control options, you can minimise harm to non-target animals by starting with the methods in the non-pesticide control section. These are very difficult to findĬheck box plants frequently from early spring onwards so action can be taken before a damaging population has developed. The pale yellow, flattish eggs are laid sheet-like, overlapping each other, on box leaves.The moth has a wingspan of around 4cm (1¼in) The adult moth usually has white wings with a faintly iridescent brown border, although the wings can be completely brown or clear.The pupae are concealed in a cocoon of white webbing spun among leaves and twigs.
Caterpillars are also capable of stripping bark, which can result in girdling of affected sections.Older caterpillars reach up to 4cm (1¼in) in length and have a greenish/yellow body with thick black and thin white stripes along the length of the body Newly hatched caterpillars are greenish-yellow, with black heads.This is not to be confused with the dieback caused by the disease known as box blight Plants may also show patches of dieback, which can be especially apparent on trimmed plants. The caterpillars eat box leaves and produce webbing over their feeding area.Gardeners are likely to become aware of box tree caterpillar when they notice defoliation or find webbing and caterpillars on box plants.
0 kommentar(er)
