Remove Box Caterpillar

Don’t replace your box hedge. Buy these two products and bring them back to life yourself!

  1. Xentari insecticide
  2. Buxus Fertilizer
  3. …that’s all!

You can remove the caterpillars yourself, it just takes a bit of time and effort.

These are the detailed steps. All links direct to Amazon

  1. [Day 1] Spray the box hedge with your hose trying to remove as many caterpillars and their webs as possible. Get deep into the hedge.
  2. [Day 1] Spray the box hedge with  Xentari insecticide; I recommend using a 2L sprayer like this to save your hands
  3. [Day 1] Give the box hedge some food, use Buxus Fertilizer
  4. [days in between] Water well!
  5. [Day 7] Give the box hedge some food, use Buxus Fertilizer
  6. [Day 14] Spray the box hedge with your hose trying to remove as many caterpillars and their webs as possible. Get deep into the hedge.
  7. [Day 14] Spray the box hedge with Xentari insecticideI recommend using a 2L sprayer like this to save your hands
  8. [Day 14] Give the box hedge some food, use Buxus fertilizer

In my experience 2 weeks after you first treat the hedge you’ll still small green shoots coming up.

4 weeks after you first treat the hedge you’ll see many more green leaves

8 weeks after you first treat the hedge it will be back to usual!

All about Box Tree Caterpillar

These little critters came from China in the 1900s but they have spread rapidly.

The lifecycle lasts about 45 days. First eggs are laid on the underside of leaves and they are a yellow greeny colour. After they hatch the caterpillars develop large black heads and spots. It takes about 2 weeks to become an adult Caterpillar and they live for about 2 weeks.

After 2 weeks they form a cocoon in white webbing spun around the leaves and it takes a week for them to transform into a moth.

Box Tree Caterpillars can be a nuisance in your garden, but there are ways to control them. For small infestations, the most eco-friendly solution is manual removal. Don some gloves and carefully pick off the caterpillars. You can drop them in soapy water to ensure they don’t wiggle free. Be sure to check deep within the plant for hidden ones, and repeat this process daily until you see a significant decrease in their numbers.

Another option is to use a biological insecticide containing Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). This bacteria is harmless to beneficial insects but disrupts the caterpillar’s digestive system when ingested. When using Bt, thoroughly coat both sides of the leaves for maximum effectiveness. Remember that Bt may need to be reapplied throughout the season to keep the caterpillars at bay.