Box Hedges Under Threat: Invasive Caterpillar Wreaks Havoc Across UK Gardens

Homeowners are being warned to take action immediately to save their box hedges from an invasive pest that can quickly destroy them. According to garden design expert Ish Kamran, the culprit is not a spider's web as previously thought, but rather caterpillar silk left behind by the box caterpillar.

The box caterpillar was accidentally introduced into the UK six or seven years ago and has been breeding rapidly ever since. 'If your box hedge is covered in this kind of webbing, it needs to be acted on fast,' Ish warns. 'It's not a spider's web; that's actually caterpillar silk, and more specifically, it's box caterpillar.'

The good news is that there are solutions available. Nematodes, tiny microorganisms that can be found online or in garden centres, can be used to control the infestation. These nematodes are harmless to humans, pets, and children but will eat the caterpillars from within.