7/1/2021
Box Tree Moth Emergency Response Underway
Jennifer Zurko & Craig Regelbrugge
AmericanHort reported that they’re continuing to monitor the plant health emergency response for box tree moth (Cydalima perspectalis), which was recently detected in a St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada, nursery. U.S. inspections are underway targeting 26 customer facilities (mostly retail) in seven states (Michigan, Ohio, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, South Carolina and Tennessee). The list may change.
The USDA Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has reported that the pest has been found associated with these plants in at least three of the states where inspections are underway. Plants from the Canadian source that are found at retail will be placed on hold and destroyed. At least some of the plants have been sold to consumers; there will be efforts to trace forward to the consumer. The goal of the response is to prevent the pest from establishing in the U.S.
On May 26, USDA imposed a federal order prohibiting the importation of all Buxus, Ilex and Euonymus spp. plants from anywhere in Canada until further notice. APHIS is in close communication with AmericanHort as they work to ensure that the industry has the latest and best information on the situation. The latest detailed AmericanHort update is available at tinyurl.com/AHboxtreemoth. APHIS has also set up a box tree moth website (tinyurl.com/APHISboxtreemoth) to provide stakeholder updates on the response effort. GP