A creepy serial killer is wreaking havoc in the gardens of Germany—and it's making everyone nervous. We're not talking about the knife-wielding kind, but rather the one who eats his way through your boxwood hedges, trees, and shrubs until they're completely bare!
The boxwood caterpillar
The boxwood caterpillar is relatively new to Germany. It was introduced around 2006 and first spotted in private gardens in 2011. Since its arrival, however, it has caused many gardeners headaches and has also devastated our wild boxwood hedges.
This caterpillar feeds exclusively on boxwood bushes, hedges, and trees, especially on leaves and shoots—so it's easy to understand why it has become native to Germany! We are a nation of hedges! The box tree moth is found throughout Germany, but is particularly common in southeastern districts—so much so that gardeners in these areas are likely to experience a recurring infestation in the near future.
The life cycle of a box tree caterpillar
Despite their devastating effects, the box tree moth caterpillar only lives for about 45 days. Initially, the box tree moth caterpillar lays its eggs on the underside of box tree leaves. Then the eggs hatch, and the caterpillars feed on the leaves, forming a cobweb-like web over their feeding site. If you see your box tree covered in this web, it's a telltale sign that you have a box tree moth infestation. 
After about three to four weeks, the caterpillar spins a chrysalis and transforms into the box tree moth. Then the cycle begins again. 
Why box tree moth populations are flourishing in Germany
Unfortunately, there are no natural predators of the box tree caterpillar or the box tree moth in Northern Europe. This is because the insect originates from Southeast Asia and is therefore of no interest to our birds or larger insects (one exception is the Asian hornet, which has also become naturalized in Europe and is originally from Asia and is found in warmer regions such as southwest France).
So why does it like boxwood? This plant is found not only in Europe, but also in Africa, parts of South and Central America, and parts of Asia. The genetics of the European and Asian species are very similar, which could be the reason why the caterpillars, which originate from Asia, like to nibble on our hedges.
How to get rid of boxwood caterpillars
There are many methods gardeners have tried to get rid of boxwood caterpillar populations on their valuable hedges. 
Manual removal
Some have the patience to pick individual caterpillars from the plants and kill them before they have a chance to eat too much of the boxwood (although this is a very laborious and somewhat cruel task).
Pheromone traps
These traps contain a synthetic pheromone that mimics the pheromones of female box tree moths. The male moths are then attracted by the pheromone and trapped inside the trap. This way, only the male moths are caught, but the breeding cycle is interrupted. The downside to these traps, however, is that they need to be replaced frequently and may not catch all the male moths in the area—some may still settle and mate in your hedges.
Chemical insecticides
These are not recommended due to their impact on nature and other beneficial species such as bees.
Microbial insecticides
Bacteria called Bacillus thuringiensis are often sold online as a remedy for box tree moths. However, this type of treatment should only be performed by professionals trained in its use.
The natural way to protect boxwood plants
If you're looking for a natural way to get rid of boxwood caterpillars and moths, natural remedies are the way to go. At deNatura , we've launched products derived from bamboo. The bamboo extract discourages the caterpillars from eating the leaves of the sprayed plants, while the leaves become stronger and greener, making the boxwood look healthier.
The treatment also works on boxwood shrubs and trees that have already experienced an infestation. Regular applications suppress the infestation and allow the plant to recover—which it should, since the caterpillars do not feed on the bark or roots of this plant.
Our products are 100% natural, vegan, and chemical-free, and safe for children, pets, and wildlife. Furthermore, they are produced sustainably, climate-positively, and fairly. They are available as a 250 ml or 500 ml concentrate, yielding up to 160 liters of diluted spray.
The product has already been tested by many customers who said:
"After applying the product to the boxwood balls in my garden over the summer months, the plants not only looked great with healthy and beautiful leaves, but the damage caused by the boxwood moth caterpillars was effectively stopped."