Identification and Management of Cydalima perspectalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) in North America

Abstract

Boxwood (Buxus spp.) is one of the most commonly planted shrubs in urban landscapes across North America, and in Europe Buxus species comprise a significant portion of the forest understory. Cydalima perspectalis (colloquially known as the box tree moth) is a defoliator capable of causing mortality-inducing damage on boxwood in both natural and managed settings. Native to Asia, C. perspectalis is now established in both Europe and Canada and has been detected multiple times in the U.S. Here we review the life cycle and potential impact of C. perspectalis in Canada and the U.S. We discuss effective integrated management strategies and provide areas where management and detection could be improved. Rigorous detection systems will be crucial to preventing the establishment and future management of C. perspectalis in North America.

First Record of <em>Nemorilla floralis</em> (Fallén 1810) (Diptera, Tachinidae) Parasitism on Box Tree Moth – <em>Cydalima perspectalis</em> (Walker 1859) (Lepidoptera, Crambidae) Larvae

“…It is an endoparasitoid of larvae of almost twenty moth species but so far there is no record of its parasitism on C. perspectalis [19]. C. perspectalis was only recently found in Africa [20] and North America [21,22]. Due to the short recent history of C. perspectalis invasion in over 40 countries of Europe, Middle East, Africa and North America [23], and the significant number of other hosts parasitized by N. floralis, further discovery of parasitism of C. perspectalis larvae by N. floralis is likely to occur in the fly's native range in other parts of Europe.…”

An Environmentally Friendly Method to Protect Box Trees (Buxus spp.) from Attacks by the Invasive Moth Cydalima perspectalis

“…in private gardens, cemeteries, and urban and historical parks [3,4] and also affecting natural boxwood stands (Buxus sempervirens L.) in southern and western Europe [5][6][7][8]. More recently, C. perspectalis has been recorded in North America (first reported in Toronto, Canada, in 2018 [9]) and in Africa (first detected in Constantine, Algeria, in 2018 [10]). Nowadays, the box-tree moth is considered an invasive species in several European countries and is on the way to becoming a cosmopolitan invasive species [4].…”