Ohio officials have detected the invasive box tree moth in four more counties, bringing the total affected to 11.
OHIO, USA — An invasive moth threatening one of Ohio’s most popular landscape plants has been detected in four more counties, state agriculture officials said.
The Ohio Department of Agriculture confirmed that box tree moths were found in monitoring traps in Ashtabula, Clark, Cuyahoga and Preble counties.
The moth, first detected in Ohio in June 2023, has now been found in 11 counties: Ashtabula, Butler, Clark, Clermont, Cuyahoga, Hamilton, Greene, Miami, Montgomery, Preble and Warren.
The box tree moth, native to East Asia, poses a threat to boxwood plantings and the state’s horticulture industry, ODA said. Boxwood shrubs are widely used in landscaping and are an important part of Ohio’s nursery stock economy.
State and federal officials are asking the public and horticultural businesses to report sightings of the moth using ODA’s online reporting tool. Inspectors will be placing traps and surveying the new areas.
Residents are encouraged to check boxwood shrubs for signs of infestation, take photos if pests are found and report them.
Information on identifying the insect, treatment options and reporting can be found on ODA’s box tree moth webpage.
This article was published by 10TV Web Staff on 2025-09-27 10:15:00
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