ERIE, Pa. — A highly destructive, invasive insect new to North America was recently discovered in Pennsylvania.
The box tree moth was located in two Erie County cemeteries, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.
The insect feeds on and destroys boxwoods, which are frequently used as topiaries and hedges and featured in Pennsylvania's public gardens, parks and conservatories, which are some of the oldest and most popular in the nation.
As a result, the Pa. Department of Agriculture has issued a quarantine to help businesses and homeowners recognize the insect, learn how to control it and keep it from spreading.
Pennsylvania’s quarantine requires plant merchants in Erie County to ensure that boxwood sold in the county stays in the county unless the business has a compliance agreement with the PA Department of Agriculture. A compliance agreement requires surveying, treatments, and record-keeping for shipments outside the county.
“This insect does not harm humans or threaten our food supply, said Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding. “It threatens livelihoods in our nursery and landscape industry, as well as the parks and gardens that enrich our communities and feed tourism dollars into our economy."
Pennsylvania's nursery and landscaping industry generates $4.1 billion for the state economy annually and is responsible for more than 63,000 jobs. Pa. leads the nation in the number of floriculture businesses, those that produce garden and bedding plants, potted plants and cut flowers.
Early detection is key to preventing significant damage, loss and spread of box tree moths. For more information on how to identify and treat the insect and safely remove and destroy infested material, click here.
Those who suspect the box tree moth is on a boxwood tree should report it to badbug@pa.gov or call 1-800-253-7189. Tipsters are urged to indicate which life stage the moth was found in, if damage to the tree was present and include photos if possible.
