Invasive species triggers USDA quarantines in Southwest Ohio. What to know
The U.S. Department of Agriculture this week announced a quarantine of several Southwest Ohio counties to stop the spread of an invasive insect, the box tree moth.
Here's what to know.
Which Ohio counties are under quarantine?
The USDA federal order establishes quarantines in Butler, Clermont, Hamilton, and Warren counties.
The quarantine includes the portion of Montgomery County to the south of Interstate 70 plus the portions of Greene County that are west of state Route 68, north of the city of Xenia, and west of interstate 42 to the south of Xenia. It echoes a quarantine issued by the Ohio Department of Agriculture issued in April.
The Ohio quarantine restricts the movement of boxwood shrubs outside of the quarantine area, to prevent the spread of the moth.
The USDA quarantine prohibits the interstate movement of boxwoods from the quarantined areas, and includes "plant parts, pieces, cuttings, clippings, debris, and any portion of the plant, alive or dead, except for decorative purposes."
The USDA order also established a quarantine in Massachusetts and expands quarantines in New York and Michigan to align with quarantines already established in those states.
What is the Box Tree Moth?
A native of temperate and subtropical climates in Asia, the box tree moth was first spotted in Ohio in June 2023, according to the Ohio Department of Agriculture. Its caterpillars can kill boxwoods through their heavy feeding. A large infestation can defoliate the plant.
Adult box tree moths are white with a brown border, according to the state department of agriculture, and are highly mobile. They are typically active at dusk and throughout the night. The larvae are green and yellow with white, yellow, and black stripes and black spots. They begin feeding in March and continue until they pupate in late April to early May.
What are boxwood shrubs?
Boxwoods are some of the most common and some of the oldest plants used for landscaping in the United States, according to Buckeye Yard and Garden Online, a blog of the Ohio State University Extension. Records of boxwood plantings date back to the 1700s, and Ohio nurseries' boxwood inventory is valued at over $200 million, the blog reports, citing the Ohio Department of Agriculture.
Box tree moth damage is confined to the boxwood, according to the blog. While it may have a few other hosts in its native Asia, the moth has only been found in North America feeding on boxwoods. Evidence of damage includes chewed, cut or missing leaves; yellowing or brown leaves; white webbing and green-black excrement on or around the plant, according to the Ohio Department of Agriculture.
What to do if you suspect a box tree moth infestation
If you suspect an infestation, the Ohio Department of Agriculture asks you to take a picture and report the finding to the ODA Plant Pest Control using the Ohio Plant Pest Reporter. The ODA also asks that you collect a sample of the moth for laboratory confirmation. Place the moth or caterpillar in an airtight container and store in a freezer until the specimen can be picked up by ODA staff.
Buckeye Yard and Garden says pesticide should only be used for a confirmed box tree moth outbreak. A preventative pesticide treatment might lead to a secondary pest outbreak by killing the beneficial insects that prey on worse ones waiting to infest your garden.
This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: USDA quarantines Ohio counties to stop invasive box tree moth
