Boxwood Caterpillar control
TOPBUXUS has a number of products in its range that make it easy to keep the Boxwood Caterpillarand Buxus moths under control.
The most important products in this story are TOPBUXUS Anti Rups® and TOPBUXUS XenTari® Raupen- & Zünslerfrei. Please note, you will only see 1 of both products for sale in our webshop, this depends on the country you are visiting the webshop from, both products are equally effective and safe!
TOPBUXUS Anti Caterpillar® and TOPBUXUS XenTari® Raupen- & Zünslerfrei are biological insecticides that are not harmful to humans and the environment. Even the natural enemies of the caterpillar, such as parasitic wasps, flies, bees and mites are not affected by the product. Birds that eat or are fed caterpillars treated with TOPBUXUS Anti Rups® or TOPBUXUS XenTari® Raupen- & Zünslerfrei will not be harmed by the product.
TOPBUXUS Anti Caterpillar® and TOPBUXUS XenTari® Raupen- & Zünslerfrei are biological insecticides based on Bacillus Thuringiensis. The product is sprayed on the Buxus plants and remains on them for several weeks. Caterpillars that eat the treated leaves will stop feeding within 2 hours, the product will damage their digestive tract and they will die 1-2 days later.
When to treat with TOPBUXUS Anti Rups® / XenTari®
The ideal moment for treatment with TOPBUXUS Anti Rups®/XenTari® is the moment when you notice the first caterpillars in your Boxwood. If the treatment is carried out at the right time, you only need to treat 3 times per season, 1x for each caterpillar cycle.
The first caterpillars usually appear in mid-April, but may be slightly earlier after a mild winter, or later in the case of a harsh winter. As soon as you see the first caterpillars, apply a treatment with TOPBUXUS Anti Rups®/XenTari® as soon as possible.
The best way to determine the next 2 treatment moments is to regularly check your Boxwoodfor caterpillars. As soon as you notice new caterpillars, carry out a new treatment with TOPBUXUS Anti Rups®/XenTari®.
The TOPBUXUS Box tree moth trap is a practical tool to make it easier to predict these moments. You hang this trap near your Boxwood (late April / early May), the pheromone in the trap attracts male Buxus moths. When you see the first Buxus moths in the trap, you can expect new caterpillars about 2 weeks later. As soon as you see them, you can repeat the treatment with TOPBUXUS Anti Rups®/XenTari® .
Attention: The moth trap is meant to monitor Buxus moth activity. Using this trap will not prevent caterpillars entering your Boxwood. Treatment with TOPBUXUS Anti Rups®/XenTari® remains necessary to control the caterpillars.
Pro tip: If you are going on holiday, then it is also advisable to treat your Boxwoodshortly before departure with TOPBUXUS Anti Rups®/XenTari® shortly before departure so that you don't have any unpleasant surprises when you get home.
TOPBUXUS Trichogramma
With TOPBUXUS Trichogramma we have an additional weapon in the fight against the Boxwood Caterpillar. By using these parasitoid micro wasps, you can ensure that there are up to 90% fewer caterpillars in your Boxwood. The female lays her eggs in the Buxus moth, destroying them and thus preventing caterpillars from hatching. This way you can limit the damage of the Boxwood Caterpillareven more. The parasitic wasps are packed in cards that you can easily hang in your Boxwood. As soon as you spot Buxus moths you can order these cards, hang them directly in your Boxwood.
NOTE: TOPBUXUS Trichogramma is not a replacement for TOPBUXUS Anti Rups®/XenTariIt will ensure that far fewer caterpillars hatch from the eggs of the Buxus moth (reduction of up to 90%).
The caterpillars that remain can still be controlled with TOPBUXUS Anti Rups®/XenTari The caterpillars that remain can still be controlled.
TOPBUXUS Trichogramma are available from May-October, outside this period no Buxus moth eggs are present.
Older caterpillar infestation
In case of a heavy (untreated) caterpillar invasion (usually the 2nd or 3rd cycle in your garden) the Boxwoodlooks very barren and seems dead at first sight.
However, if you brush through the plants by hand or with the help of a hard broom, you will see that greenery will reappear after most of the rubbish has been knocked out.
So the plant is certainly not dead and will, with the right care, recover completely!
Give the plants an extra, double dose, of TOPBUXUS Grow to give them all the nutrition they need to recover. You will see that the plants will slowly but surely start to recover.
Keep checking carefully for caterpillars and apply timely treatment with TOPBUXUS Anti Rups® /XenTari® as described above to prevent further damage.
Close up of a recovering hedge: in this severely damaged hedge, numerous new buds are forming while the remains of the damaged leaves are still clearly visible.
