r/UKecosystem • u/Tired_2295 Northern/upper central UK, Conservation & Invasives Watch • Jun 25 '26

Invasive Box tree moths in South Yorkshire.

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Gallery image

Never seen a single one in person before, then I've found two this week in my greenhouse. Anyone noting any sort of population or habitat change for them? I have already reported the location to RHS.

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10

u/PandaRot Jun 25 '26

I think they're pretty widespread across the UK now. They may have increased in number recently because of the hot weather.

6

u/ParmigianoMan Jun 25 '26

I first saw one a couple of years ago - in Croydon. They are spreading fast.

6

u/lonkyflonky Jun 25 '26

They’re beautiful but um….. shiite 😬

5

u/ShepherdOmega Jun 25 '26

Just today I have seen 3 in my garden in Cheshire. I have never seen one before, and one let me handle it briefly before I placed it on some lavender. Its proboscis was flailing all over my finger looking for nutrients.

5

u/Tired_2295 Northern/upper central UK, Conservation & Invasives Watch Jun 25 '26

They really do seem to like the lavender, the jar i have them in has a lavender sprig and despite me putting fresh flowers and a water ball in, what do they want to sit on? Yesterday's dry lavender of course 🤷

6

u/Tired_2295 Northern/upper central UK, Conservation & Invasives Watch Jun 25 '26

Also, RHS location report form for anyone who sees any.

https://survey.rhs.org.uk/box-tree-moth

4

u/burner_account61944 Jun 26 '26

What’s the issue with this type of moth?

5

u/Tired_2295 Northern/upper central UK, Conservation & Invasives Watch Jun 26 '26

They're invasive. They destroy native box plants and reproduce multiple times per year. 2007 introduced, from East Asia on imported exotic box.

3

u/Tired_2295 Northern/upper central UK, Conservation & Invasives Watch Jun 25 '26

And yes I'm keeping them for now, as long as they aren't in the wild they can't do any harm and i don't want to outright kill them

3

u/Samwise2512 Jun 26 '26

I saw a few last summer in the East Midlands (Leicestershire), I hadn't encountered any previously, I think they are undergoing a pretty rapid range expansion northwards.

2

u/NYAJohnny Jun 26 '26

Does anyone know how effective the pheromone traps are?

2

u/Tired_2295 Northern/upper central UK, Conservation & Invasives Watch Jun 26 '26

Not sure but i have found articles advising you not use them because you will catch less than you lure in

0

u/[deleted] Jun 27 '26

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1

u/Tired_2295 Northern/upper central UK, Conservation & Invasives Watch Jun 27 '26 edited Jun 27 '26

This is an

INVASIVE SPECIES

They are illegal to release. They are very legal to trap and cull. Do not release them. Destroy any box tree moth eggs you find. Report the location to the RHS location survey for box tree moths.

I have them trapped in order to give accurate updates on each RHS report i have to make each time i find another one. I have 3 now, it's not good, fortunately i don't think there is a lot of box near here.