Invasion, impact, and biological control of the

box tree moth, Cydalima perspectalis, in Europe

Marc Kenis, Saidou Nacambo, Lukas Seehausen

Background
The box tree moth, Cydalima perspectalis (Lepidoptera:
Crambidae) (Fig. 1 & 2), is an insect of Asian origin that
recently invaded most of Europe, Turkey, and the
Caucasus (Fig. 3). It probably arrived on traded
ornamental plants from Asia around 20051,2. Since then, it
has become a major pest of ornamental box trees in
gardens, but it also represents a serious threat to native
Buxus spp. in Europe and elsewhere, in particular when it
acts in conjunction with the box blight Cylindrocladium
buxicola, an invasive fungal pathogen from Asia3.
Figure 1: A box tree moth larva feeding on Buxus Figure 2: A box tree moth adult (Photo: T. Haye)
sempervirens (Photo: T. Haye)

Figure 3: Known introduced (red) and natural (green)

distribution of the box tree moth Cydalima perspectalis.
See Bras (2018) and sources therein for more information
on the distribution. Created with mapchart.net ©

Problem
The economic impact of the pest is considered rather
minor, also because ornamental trees can easily be
treated with the biopesticide Bt. In contrast, on wild box Figure 4: Completely defoliated Buxus sempervirens understory in Switzerland (Photo: T. Haye)
trees, control measures are problematic and natural
enemies have virtually no impact on populations of the
Potential solutions
moth4. Consequently, stands of Buxus sempervirens, the
common European box tree, are quickly disappearing Preliminary studies have identified two Asian braconid parasitoids as candidate agents for classical biological control
(Fig. 4 & 5). Furthermore, 43 fungi, 3 chromista and 18 (importation) in Europe, Chelonus tabonus and Dolichogenidea stantoni (Fig. 6 & 7). But further investigations are
invertebrates are known exclusively from Buxus spp. and needed to assess their potential and the risks posed to non-target species4. In the meantime, selected natural Buxus
could disappear with the eradication of their host tree5. spp. stands should be protected, e.g. with Bt applications, to secure the survival of native box trees in Europe.

Figure 5: Dead natural box tree stand in Georgia after Figure 6: Prospection for parasitoids of the box tree Figure 7: Cocoons beside a dead box tree moth larva (left)
complete defoliation by the box tree moth. (Photo: M. Kenis). moth in China. (Photo: T. Haye) and adult female (right) of the parasitic wasp
Dolichogenidea stantoni. (Photos: CABI)

references: 1Krüger 2008, 2Van der Straten & Muus 2010, 3Kenis et al. 2013, 4Wan et al. 2014, 5Mitchell et al. 2018.
acknowledgements: We thank the Office de l’Environnement de la République et Canton du Jura and the Food &
Agriculture Organization of the United Nations for the support of this study.
We gratefully acknowledge the funding provided for this research
by the following organizations and agencies:
[list the relevant donors/sponsors (with contract number(s) if allocated)]
We also gratefully acknowledge the support of the [Agency] and government of
[Country] who host and facilitate CABI’s operations in [Country].
CABI is an international intergovernmental organisation, and we gratefully
acknowledge the core financial support from our member countries
(and lead agencies) including: UK aid, Ministry of Agriculture People’s Republic of
China, Australian Centre of International Agricultural Research, Agriculture and
Agri-Food Canada, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands and the Swiss
Agency for Development and Cooperation

KNOWLEDGE FOR LIFE

CABI Switzerland, Rue des Grillons 1, 2800 Delémont, Switzerland T: +41 (0)32 4314884 E: m.kenis@cabi.org