Asian box tree caterpillars invade Britain – they can destroy the best garden

The gluttonous Asian box tree is an invasive species of caterpillar that can reduce garden hedges to bare skeletons in no time and are spreading from London across the UK. These insects can eat their way through box hedges within days of hatching and destroy prized gardens.
This has been reported in dailymail.co.uk dated 27 August 2015.

The number of infestations have risen from 20 in 2014 to 150 so far this year. Earlier, in 2011, there were only three reports. These used to be found only in parts of South West London. But, the voracious, inch-long pest has spread its reach rapidly and has invaded beyond the M25 and into Essex.
The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has revealed that they now receive three to four reports of infestations of Diaphania perspectalis daily and have cautioned that several hundred of these can coat a plant at any one time and, decimate gardens before the owners can even spot them.
In the opinion of experts, these caterpillars originated in China and entered the UK after flying over the English Channel or stowing away on container ships.
(Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org)


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