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Box Tree Moth Pheromone Trap


What Are Box Tree Caterpillars?

Box Tree Caterpillars have rapidly become a serious pest of Box plants and Box hedges all across the UK. The Box Tree Caterpillars can develop in large numbers and in severe cases are capable of completely killing Box plants. The caterpillars will defoliate the plants and damage the leaves, leaving them in a skeletal state. The caterpillars may even bore into the bark of more mature Box plants if left untreated.

Identifying Box Tree Caterpillars

The Box Tree Moths will lay flat, pale yellow eggs that overlap each other in a flat sheet on the underside of the leaves on your Box plants. The larvae that hatch are of a greenish-yellow composition with black heads. As the larvae mature their green body develops dark brown stripes. Very mature larvae have thick black and thin white stripes down the body, with large black dots outlined in white. Look for clear webbing left on the plants which is created when the caterpillars achieve high numbers

How Do I Treat My Box Tree Caterpillar Infestation With This Trap? 

Setting up one of our Box Tree Moth Traps is the first step in protecting your Box Tree plants and hedging. This will assist you in catching, monitoring and killing male Box Tree Moths. Once these are observed, it is likely that the Box tree Caterpillars will follow a few weeks later. By pre-empting their activity, and reducing moth numbers, you will have a greater chance of limiting an infestation. Moth mating and egg laying will also be reduced as a result.

We would then suggest applying our Box Tree Caterpillar Killer Nematodes as soon as the caterpillars themselves are observed.  Finally, consider using our Soil Boost Granules to help your Box plants recover. To purchase all three of these recommended items together please see our Box Tree Caterpillar Control and Recovery Bundle.

How Does The Trap Work?

Our Box Tree Moth Traps catch and kill adult male Box Tree Moths by utilising a species specific pheromone lure. Adult male moths will be attracted to the scent and fly inside the trap through the holes on the side, drop down, and become trapped. Moth mating and egg laying will be reduced as a result, and future generations of caterpillars will be prevented from developing. Moth populations can also be monitored through this trap which will help provide you with an early warning as to their activity.

Each trap is supplied with two pheromone lures. Each lure is active for a minimum of 6 weeks.

Apply 1 trap per 180m2 .

Each trap is also supplied with a sticky pad to place in the bottom of the trap, this helps retain moths in the trap.

How Do I Set Up The Lures In The Traps?

Each lure is supplied in a foil sachet. Remove the lure from the sachet and place it in the lure cage at the top of the trap. 

Additional lures may be stored in a fridge or freezer.

Full instructions are provided on delivery.

Our Pheromone Lures Provide The Best Results

There are lures available that are marketed to last all season but research has proven, however, that such lures are less effective in catching Box Tree Moths. Trials were carried by Dragonfli and the RHS at Hyde Hall Gardens which compared Box Tree pheromone lure types. The results found that the longer life lures caught far fewer moths than our standard lures.

We believe it is favorable to use our standard Box Tree Pheromone Lures and replace them every six weeks to achieve maximum catch rate of the male Box Tree Moths. It is also good practice to remove caught moths from the traps every six weeks.

How Many Traps Do I Need?

Each trap covers an area of 180m2

Providing the traps are placed more than 20 meters apart, more than one trap can be used in a smaller area.

When Should I Use The Trap?

There are several generations of Box tree Caterpillars in a season. They are active from April - October, so traps should be set during this period.

Will The Trap Catch The Caterpillars?

No, this trap will only attract and kill the adult male moths.

Our traps are environmentally friendly and no threat to small birds.

How Long Do The Traps Last?

The trap can be used for years and replacement lures can be purchased for additional coverage. A replacement pack of small parts is also available to purchase here.

Each trap comes with two pheromone lures, each of which last up to 6 weeks, giving the trap an initial 12-week protection. Replacement lures can be purchased separately here.

Replacement sticky pads are available to purchase here, if you wish to replace them once they are full. 

Customer Reviews

Based on 16 reviews Write a review

Customer Reviews

Based on 17 reviews
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B
Beverley CUDD
Yes it does work

My previous review explained that the moths were not dying or sticking to the pad. After your advice to put water in the trap we now have an easier job as all the moths drown so we just have to empty it every now and again. Definitely recommend this product.

G
Gruffski
Better than expected

Received this yesterday and put it out in the evening. Filled the bottom with about 2 cm water and a drop of washing up liquid. Checked it this morning and there were 48 (yes, I counted them) dead box tree moths. Shame I can't post a picture. Well worth investing in.

S
Sarah Jones
A miracle

We removed all the box at the front of our house due to caterpillar damage two years ago. If only I knew then what I know now!!!
When the box in our back garden came under attack I spent hours removing caterpillars and spraying with Resolve. Both tricks work but to spray within the hedge which you have to do took over 4 hours and has to be repeated every 2 weeks. Then I saw the add for dragonfly. This wasn’t particularly cheap and I was very sceptical. Within two weeks of hanging up the catcher I must have caught fifty of the male moths. I replaced the hormone after six weeks and on we go. The male moths just keep getting caught. It seems consistent with about 50 every two weeks.
There is absolutely no sign of any caterpillar in my box hedging. It’s absolutely brilliant. My neighbour called over recently and commented on how healthy my hedging looked. Hers is near death row. The tree surgeons couldn’t believe it either. It’s a miracle cure.

I
I.V.

Prompt delivery. Easy to construct. Works well and I am catching lots of Box Moths.

B
Beverley CUDD
Catches but doesn't kill

We have had this trap up for a couple of weeks with no activity but in the last 3 days have had approx 11 moths caught in it. The first night all 7 were not stuck to the sticky pad and a couple were hiding in the green funnel, we had to dispose of them by hand. We replaced the sticky pad with one of our own and the following 3 did eventually stick to the sticky pad. We now have one more in there which is clinging to the side of the container a second one got away as it was on the underside of the green pointed cover. So although it works it doesn't stop them getting back out. Hence the approx amount as some may have escaped.

Hi Beverley, thanks for getting in touch. Great to hear that the trap is catching so many moths. In most circumstances we would simply advise to wait for the moths to die out naturally in the trap. If the trap is so brimming with moths, however, that you are concerned no more will be able to enter into it, simply fill the trap with water to drown the live moths and then proceed to empty the trap and hang it up again. Hope this helps and that you continue to catch plenty of the moths. Kind regards, Julian Ives [Director, Dragonfli]