Partners: USDA, Clemson Regulatory Plant Sciences, North American Invasive Species Management Association (NAISMA)
Speakers:
Steven Long, Assistant Director, Department of Plant Industry – Regulatory Services, Clemson University
Ricardo Valdez, National Policy Manager, USDA-APHIS-PPQ
National Response:
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has confirmed the presence of box tree moth in the continental United States, and has implemented an emergency response to find and eradicate this pest. This invasive pest can significantly damage and potentially kill boxwood (Buxus species) plants if left unchecked. The insect is native to East Asia and has become a serious invasive pest in Europe, where it continues to spread. The caterpillars feed mostly on boxwood and heavy infestations can defoliate host plants. Once the leaves are gone, larvae consume the bark, leading to girdling and plant death.
“As of June 1, 2021, the South Carolina detection is being treated as a regulatory incident, and this pest is not thought to have escaped into the landscape. Clemson’s Department of Plant Industry is investigating plant shipments into and out of the South Carolina nursery to determine if infested material may have been inadvertently sold to homeowners and will be monitoring in and around the nursery to ensure this moth has not escaped.”
The Southern IPM Hour presents research, issues, and programs in Integrated Pest Management from the Southern Region. The IPM Hour takes place on the first Wednesday of the every month at 1pm Eastern.
Recordings of the webinars are available after the event.
See upcoming IPM Hours at https://southernipm.org/ipmhour/