The Biggest Threat To Gardens In The UK? Could It Be The Chinese Box Tree Caterpillar?
                     The Biggest Threat To Gardens In The UK? Could It Be The 
Chinese Box Tree Caterpillar?
If you were to ask most people what was the biggest pest decimating gardens across the UK, 
who would have thought the culprit would have come all the way from China?
However, the all-devouring species of caterpillar arrived from overseas ten years ago, where it 
has run rampant over the hedgerows of British stately homes and has now spread to all four 
corners of the UK
The Chinese Box Tree Caterpillar, as the name suggests, is native to China and attacks box hedges 
and has been seen in the grounds of stately homes, where they destroy ornamental trees by 
eating all the leaves. This has seen the box caterpillar overtake the slug and snail as being 
considered the biggest pest infesting gardens in the UK this year.
The Box tree caterpillar, or to refer to it by its scientific name Cydalima perspectalis, is most 
active between the months of April and October. You can always spot the signs the pest has 
been feeding in your garden as you will find box plants, or Buxus, covered in webbing, which is 
how the caterpillar eats, covering foliage in a web and then devouring it down.
The caterpillar arrived from its home in East Asia ten years ago and was found in the UK in 2011. 
The pest, when it first came to British shores, was located around London and the South East of 
England has multiplied at an incredible rate.
The caterpillar is believed to have come to Britain from China, either in containers with pots 
imported into the country or in planes, flying over the English Channel. The pest is thought to be 
difficult to control and if you find one in your garden, you are advised to get rid of them 
personally.
There is very little information available on how to get rid of them in the UK, whereas back home 
in China, they are controlled by hornets, who feed on the mots, keeping their population down.
However, the pest has been running unchecked across Europe, destroying huge clusters of wild 
box trees. Many are now increasingly worried about the moth attacking more than the gardens 
of stately homes and may devour wild box trees all over Britain, in effect decimating the plant 
across the country.
Researchers are working on various methods of stopping the pest in its tracks. Pesticides have 
been used to try and repel an infestation in professional gardens and widespread areas, 
although it is used by professional pest controllers, it is apparently not readily available. 
However, experts are contemplating other, often organic means of pest control, some even 
suggest using the droppings of the caterpillar or spreading its scent around areas already 
infested, may repel the moth, amongst other options.
If you are battling a pest infestation in your home or garden, or even in the workplace, and 
searching for the best solution, then depend on Pest Master Ltd.
Why not see for yourself why we are called the number one provider of 
pest elimination services in Paisley, Glasgow and Rutherglen? We can run rampant over an 
infestation, instead of letting an infestation run wild.
The Original article Published at pest-master Blog :-
https://www.pest-master.com/chinese-box-tree-caterpillar/