When temperatures become warm in late-April/May, usually >15C, overwintered early-instar larvae will venture out of their winter cocoon to feed on the surface tissue of the leaves. Larvae are green with black striping and black heads. Note how young larvae feed on just the leaf surface, as they have small chewing mouthparts. Chewed leaf tissue becomes desiccated and will turn light brown after a few weeks. Also note the webbing and excrement amongst the chewed foliage and twigs. A second generation of larvae can be found hatching in July and August.
As larvae mature, they shed their skins (molt) in order to increase their body size. With each molt, larvae acquire a larger set of mandibles and will eventually consume entire portions of leaves, quite often leaving just the margin of the leaf behind. Note the webbing and excrement amongst the chewed foliage and twigs.
Box tree moth larvae can be effectively managed with the biological insecticide Bt, a naturally occurring bacterium found in the soil that is also registered for organic food production. Bt is the same biological insecticide that is applied by air over the City of Toronto to combat spongy moth larvae during epidemic years. Bt works best when sprayed thoroughly on foliage with adequate pressure to penetrate the dense canopy and webby larval colonies. When Bt is sprayed on the foliage, leaf-munching box tree moth larvae consume it. Within an hour of ingesting the B.t. residue, the larvae stop feeding and then expire within 48-72 hours. We find that 2 or 3 applications of Bt per season can be very effective at reducing box tree moth populations. Call US or send us a message, for a free estimate to treat your boxwood and keep them protected from defoliating, invasive insect species.
Contact Us Today for Quality, Professional, and Experienced Tree care. Where you and your green space are our number one priority.
During the transition to autumn, implementing certain management practices can provide support for our landscape plants and tree maintenance, as the days become shorter and cooler. Here’s our annual Fall Tree Update to help guide you in supporting your trees and shrubs throughout fall and winter 2023.
Oak Wilt is a serious disease that can have devastating effects on oak populations. However, with regular inspections and proper management, it is possible to protect our valuable oak resources.
During the transition to autumn, implementing certain management practices can provide support for our landscape plants and tree maintenance, as the days become shorter and cooler. Here’s our annual Fall Tree Update to help guide you in supporting your trees and shrubs throughout fall and winter 2023.
Oak Wilt is a serious disease that can have devastating effects on oak populations. However, with regular inspections and proper management, it is possible to protect our valuable oak resources.
The Spotted Lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) is an invasive insect pest that poses a significant threat to our landscape trees, shrubs and garden plants. Originating from Asia, this pest was first detected in Pennsylvania in 2014, and has quickly spread across several states. Spotted Lanternfly can cause severe damage to a wide range of woody and herbaceous plants.
Contact Us Today for Quality, Professional, and Experienced Tree care. Where you and your green space are our number one priority.
Main Office
Bolton, ON
Email us today at
Beautiful Trees Inc.
Main Office (Johl Anderson)
206 Hickman St
Bolton, Ontario L7E 2P4
(416) 738- – 4137
Thornton Yard ( Jon Fry)
5089 20th Sideroad
Thornton, Ontario L0L 2N0
Vandorf Yard (Chris Ward)
2375 Vandorf Rd
Stouffville, Ontario L4A 2J7
Monday – Friday 9 AM to 5 PM
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