Anyone with ornamental specimens or hedges of box may have noticed areas of greying leaves
and what appears to be spider webbing. The chances are that they are infected with
box tree caterpillars Cydalima Perspectalis. These arrived from China a few years ago and
are creating serious havoc in Europe in particular Germany where nearly 100% of their boxes
are affected. The problem is here in France and there is evidence here at our house in St Antonin
(the two boxes outside at the front of our house) and elsewhere in the town. Ultimately the box
plants will be completely stripped and the plants weakened such that they easily die.
Control can be achieved with Pyrethroid insecticide which can be obtained from most
garden centres and nurseries.
Regards
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News and views from the Tarn, Aveyron and Tarn and Garonne corner of South West France. taglines82@gmail.com
Sunday 6 April 2014
The question answered
Val says the answer to the question in a post above was given by Tony last year