Box Tree Moth Wreaks Havoc on Cape Cod Boxwoods

The box tree moth (Cydalima perspectalis), an invasive pest native to East Asia, has been ravaging boxwoods on Cape Cod and Martha's Vineyard.

It was first spotted in New York in 2021 and has since migrated down the Cape as recently as 2025, with sightings in multiple states from Maryland to Ohio.

The moth's caterpillars feed on the interior leaves of boxwoods, making damage difficult to see until it becomes extensive. They can eat the tissue between the veins of the leaves, causing the plant to be covered in brown skeletonized leaves and wispy curls of central veins.

As they mature, the caterpillars can begin to eat the bark and girdle the stems of the plant, resulting in death.

Vinny Tomasello, an International Society of Arboriculture-certified arborist with Bartlett Tree Experts, notes that 'diligent monitoring and proper health' of boxwoods can mean the difference between eliminating a pest and buying a new one.