Check Your Boxwoods: Invasive Moth Found in Genesee County

Your landscaping in Michigan has a new, uninvited dinner guest. The invasive box tree moth has been confirmed in Genesee County, and its caterpillars would like to know whether your boxwoods offer unlimited refills.

Where Else Is the Box Tree Moth in Michigan?

A look at the box tree moth caterpillar, an invasive species in Michigan.

The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) says USDA traps found the new population near the edge of the state's existing quarantine zone. Genesee County is set to become the 14th county in that zone.

The other 13 are Clinton, Eaton, Ingham, Jackson, Lapeer, Lenawee, Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, St. Clair, Washtenaw, and Wayne. The quarantine covers whole counties, not necessarily every neighborhood, though. Quite a tour of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula for an insect nobody invited.

Why Michigan Boxwoods Are in Trouble

The box tree moth and box tree caterpillar are seen.

The caterpillars chew boxwood leaves until the shrubs look like skeletons. Heavy infestations can strip the shrub bare and eventually kill it. This is a threat to ornamental boxwoods, not Michigan forests, according to the state. So your yard gets the drama while the woods sit this one out.

What to Do If You Spot Signs of the Box Tree Moth

Check boxwoods for chewed or browning leaves, loose webbing, and green and yellow caterpillars with black spots and stripes. Take photos and report the sighting using Michigan's Eyes in the Field online reporting system.

MDARD asks residents outside the quarantine area to notify officials before spraying or disposing of infested plants; officials will provide instructions after confirming the infestation.

RELATED: Michigan’s Squish-on-Sight Bug Has Reached Eight Counties

And don't haul boxwood plants or clippings out of the quarantine zone. Your shrub already has a problem; it doesn't need a road trip.