Sunday 6 April 2014

The question answered

Val says the answer to the question in  a post above was given by Tony last year

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
 Tony
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