Insecticides for Managing Box Tree Moth
DOWNLOADApril 14, 2023 - Juang Horng (JC) Chong, Clemson University
The box tree moth, Cydalima perspectalis, was detected in the US in 2021. Box tree moth is a serious pest of boxwood (Buxus), and has been reported on other hosts (Euonymus, Ilex and Murraya). State and federal regulators are currently conducting intensive trapping and regulatory activities to prevent the spread of box tree moth in the US. If you wish to assist with box tree moth trapping, or find or suspect box tree moth infestation, please contact your local Extension, state department of agriculture, or USDA APHIS offices. Refer to the Box Tree Moth EDDMapS website (https://www.eddmaps.org/species/subject.cfm?sub=62133) for resources to help you identify and manage the box tree moth.
The box tree moth is a new pest in the US. As a result, there is no information on the efficacy of insecticides against the box tree moth in the US. This list of insecticides focuses primarily on insecticides that are available to commercial operations (nurseries, greenhouses and landscapes), and is developed based on insecticides registered for management of caterpillars in general.
Some of the active ingredients are also available for homeowner use, albeit under different product trade names.
Important notes:
- No product is registered specifically for box tree moth management. This list includes active ingredients that are registered for various caterpillar species, and are recommended for general caterpillar management on ornamental
- Inclusion of any insecticide in this list does not imply effectiveness. Efficacy data against populations in the US are not available. Discuss product efficacy and management plan with your local Extension agent or state Extension
- Trade names are included as examples, and do not represent endorsement by Clemson University or any organization that uses this
- Check with your local Extension office to determine if an active ingredient is registered for use in your state or county, as well as other use
- Read product labels carefully to determine use site, restricted entry interval (REI), personal protection equipment (PPE), application rate, application method, other use restrictions, and other
- Some products are harmful to beneficial insects and mites, such as pollinators, parasitic wasps, predators, etc. Read labels carefully and adhere to advisory statements on pollinator protection. Generally, broad-spectrum insecticides, such as carbamates, organophosphates, neonicotinoids, abamectin and spinosyns, can be detrimental to certain natural enemy species. Use only compatible insecticides if biological control is
Insecticides Registered for Caterpillar Management in the US
Use site: L = landscape, N = nursery, G = greenhouse. REI = Restricted entry interval.
IRAC No. |
Chemical class or subgroup |
Active ingredient |
Trade names (examples) |
Use Site |
REI |
Pollinator Advisory |
1A |
Carbamates |
carbaryl |
Carbaryl, Sevin |
L, N, G |
12 |
No |
1B |
Organophosphates |
acephate |
Acephate, Lepitect, Orthene |
L, N, G |
24 |
No |
chlorpyrifos |
Chlorpyrifos |
L, N |
24 |
No |
||
Dursban |
N |
24 |
No |
|||
DuraGuard ME |
N, G |
24 |
No |
|||
malathion |
Malathion |
L, N |
12 |
No |
||
trichlorfon |
Dylox |
L |
N/A |
No |
||
3A |
Pyrethroids |
bifenthrin |
Bifen, Talstar, etc. |
L, N, G |
12 |
No |
OnyxPro |
L, N |
12 |
No |
|||
cyfluthrin |
Decathlon |
L, N, G |
12 |
No |
||
beta-cyfluthrin |
Tempo |
L |
N/A |
No |
||
lambda- cyhalothrin |
Scimitar |
L, N, G |
24 |
No |
||
alpha- cypermethrin |
Fendona |
L |
N/A |
No |
||
beta-cypermethrin |
Demon |
L |
N/A |
No |
||
deltamethrin |
DeltaGard, Suspend |
L |
N/A |
No |
||
fenpropathrin |
Tame |
L, N, G |
24 |
No |
||
tau-fluvalinate |
Mavrik Aquaflow |
L, N, G |
12 |
No |
||
permethrin |
Astro |
L, G |
12 |
No |
||
Perm-Up |
N, G |
12 |
No |
|||
pyrethrins |
Lynx, Pyganic, etc |
N, G |
12 |
No |
||
3A + 4A |
Pyrethroids + Neonicotinoids |
bifenthrin + clothianidin |
Aloft |
L |
N/A |
Yes |
bifenthrin + imidacloprid |
(Allectus) |
L |
N/A |
Yes |
||
cyfluthrin + imidacloprid |
Discus N/G |
N, G |
12 |
Yes |
||
l-cyhalothrin + imidacloprid |
Tandem |
L |
N/A |
Yes |
||
bifenthrin + zeta- cypermethrin + imidacloprid |
Triple Crown T&O |
L |
N/A |
Yes |
||
3A + UN |
Pyrethroids + Azadirachtin |
pyrethrins + azadirachtin |
Azera Gardening |
L, N, G |
12 |
No |
3A + UNF |
Pyrethroids + Entomopathogenic fungi |
pyrethrins + B. bassiana |
Botanigard MAXX |
L, N, G |
12 |
No |
4A |
Neonicotinoids |
acetamiprid |
Tristar |
L, N, G |
12 |
No |
dinotefuran |
Safari |
L, N, G |
12 |
Yes |
||
thiamethoxam |
Meridian |
L |
12 |
Yes |
IRAC No. |
Chemical class or subgroup |
Active ingredient |
Trade names (examples) |
Use Site |
REI |
Pollinator Advisory |
4C + 5 |
Sulfoxamines + Spinosyns |
sulfoxaflor + spinetoram |
XXpire |
N, G |
12 |
No |
5 |
Spinosyns |
spinosad |
Conserve, Entrust |
L, N, G |
4 |
No |
6 |
Avermectins |
abamectin |
Avid, Lucid, Minx |
L, N, G |
12 |
No |
Aracinate |
L |
N/A |
No |
|||
11 |
Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) and insecticidal proteins |
Bt. subsp. aizawai |
Agree, Xentari |
L, N, G |
4 |
No |
Bt. subsp. kurstaki |
Biopit, Bioprotec, Dipel, Thuricide |
L, N, G |
4 |
No |
||
13 |
Chlorfenapyr |
chlorfenapyr |
Pylon |
G |
12 |
No |
15 |
Benzoylureas |
diflubenzuron |
Dimilin |
L |
12 |
No |
novaluron |
Pedestal |
N, G |
12 |
No |
||
18 |
Diacyhydrazines |
methoxyfenozide |
Intrepid |
L, N, G |
4 |
No |
21A |
METI insecticides |
tolfenpyrad |
Hachi-Hachi |
G |
12 |
No |
22A |
Indoxacarb |
indoxacarb |
Provaunt |
L |
N/A |
No |
28 |
Diamides |
chlorantraniliprole |
Acelepryn |
L, N, G |
4 |
No |
cyantraniliprole |
Mainspring |
L, N, G |
4 |
Yes |
||
cyclaniliprole |
Sarisa |
N, G |
4 |
No |
||
28 + 29 |
Diamides + Flonicamid |
cyclaniliprole + flonicamid |
Pradia |
N, G |
12 |
No |
31 |
Nucleopolyhedroviruses |
? |
? |
? |
? |
No |
32 |
GS-omega/kappa HxTx- Hv1a peptide |
GS-omega/kappa HxTx-Hv1a peptide |
Spear |
N, G |
4 |
No |
UN |
Unknown mode of action (MOA) |
azadirachtin |
Azatin, AzaGuard, Ornazin, etc. |
L, N, G |
4 |
No |
pyridaryl |
Overture |
G |
12 |
No |
||
UNB |
Unknown MOA - Bacterial agents |
Heat-killed Burkholderia spp. |
Venerate |
L, N, G |
4 |
No |
Chromabacterium subtsugae |
Grandevo |
L, N, G |
4 |
No |
||
UNE |
Unknown MOA – Botanical extract |
neem oil |
Trilogy, Triact |
L, N, G |
4 |
No |
UNF |
Unknown MOA – Fungal agents |
Beauveria bassiana |
Botanigard, Mycotrol, BioCeres |
L, N, G |
4 |
No |
Isaria fumosorosea |
Ancora |
N, G |
4 |
No |
||
|
Unclassified |
Heterorhabditis bacteriophora |
NemaShield |
L, N, G |
N/A |
No |
Steinernema carpocapsae |
Millenium, Capsanem |
L, N, G |
N/A |
No |
||
potassium salts of fatty acid (insecticidal soap) |
M-Pede, Kopa |
L, N, G |
12 |
No |
||
mineral, petroleum or paraffinic oil (horticultural or dormant oil) |
SuffOil-X, Ultra- Pure, Sunspray |
L, N, G |
4 |
No |
Insecticides Available in the US for Use against Box Tree Moth (Modified from USDA APHIS 2021)
Source: USDA APHIS. 2021. Table 5-1 Insecticides available in the United States for use against box tree moth. In: New Pest Response Guidelines, Cydalima perspectalis, Box Tree Moth. Available: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health/plant_pest_info/box-tree-moth/box- tree-moth-nprg.pdf (Last Updated 15 July 2021.)
IRAC Number |
Insecticide class or mode of action |
Active ingredient |
28 |
Diamides |
Chlorantraniliprole |
18 |
Ecdysone receptor antagonists |
Methoxyfenozide |
6 |
Glutamate gated chloride channel blocker |
Abamectin |
Emamectin |
||
4A |
Neonicotinoids |
Thiacloprid |
1B |
Organophosphate |
Trichlorfon |
Dimethoate |
||
Chlorpyrifos |
||
3A |
Pyrethroids |
Lambda-cyhalothrin |
Beta-cyfluthrin |
||
Cypermethrin |
||
Tau-fluvalinate |
||
5 |
Spinosyns |
Spinosad |