08/13/2026
Tree Check Month - Boxwoods Under Siege: Meet the Box Tree Moth
Next up on our Tree Check Month “Most Wanted” list: the box tree moth (BTM), Cydalima perspectalis. This sneaky invader loves boxwoods—those popular evergreens found in yards across Indiana. While we haven’t found it in Indiana yet, it’s edging closer, recently popping up in Ohio and Michigan on infested nursery plants.
Its caterpillars are ravenous feeders, turning beautiful boxwoods into skeletonized twigs. Look for defoliated leaves, heavy webbing, and tiny caterpillars hiding inside the branches. Adults are sleek white moths with a brown border, quietly fluttering around after dusk when most people aren’t looking. Keep watch, Hoosiers!
If you see any unusual insects or damage, contact the Division of Entomology and Plant Pathology by email at [email protected] , by calling 1-866-NO-EXOTIC, or by reporting the pest here https://on.IN.gov/report-pests. Remember to include your name, location, contact information and the pest you are contacting us about.
Image 1 – Caterpillar feeding on leaf of boxwood.
Image 2 - Leaf skeletonization of boxwood leaves caused by BTM.
Image 3 - Adult box tree moth. Credit: Alison Morris, Bugwood.org