box blight

Last year a horde of small caterpillars quickly destroyed around 50% of a box hedge which Ray had planted and lovingly nurtured.

This year their offspring from the webby structures they built on the leaves of the remaining hedge are hatching out and starting to chomp away at it.

Numerous remedies have failed to tackle them - anyone have any ideas?


https://flic.kr/p/2nh6caj

[Beryl Lloyd]

Ooh Hazel ,what devastation !Sorry I have no solution for you but I always try a strong solution of soapy water ( washing-up liquid ) frothed up to smother whatever is underneath - works with aphids !! However a great capture of one of the culprits !!

[Joanne Diochon]

A great, detailed, capture of an unappealing subject.

[JackieR]

oh dear, i'm so sad for Ray. fab macro though xx

[Casablanca]

What a super shot though not so good to have it there.

[Pat Knowles]

Oh no…I knew Box had a problem last year but to see it again this year must be very disappointing.

[Maxine Lathbury]

Oh no! Great picture though

[gloria jones]

Neat close up

[haskar]

I'm sorry, but I don't know an effective way. We all like beautiful butterflies, not remembering that we have voracious caterpillars first.

[Peter]

Such a shame Hazel its a devil of a job to remove there are fungicides on the market such as Provanto 86600250 Fungus Fighter Plus that claim to stop it but we have no experience of using them sorry:)

[Milanie]

Great close-up showing all his details

[Carole Sandford]

A great macro of your culprit, shame he will have brought his relatives too!

[Phil Howcroft]

it's a good macro , what will you do haze ?

[wendy frost]

A great capture and details. Sorry you have caterpillers again this year. I think I would try throwing bird seed down around the bushes and hope the birds find the caterpillers as well.

[Walks @ 7]

I agree with @wendyfrost , call in the troops for help

[Shutterbug]

We use insecticide with BT. BT is a natural, non-pathogenic bacterium that is found naturally in the soil. It is considered to be organic.

[Hazel]

Thank you everyone for your comments and especially for possible solutions to the problem, which Ray is going to try. I thought the webby bits were defunct from last year and could hardly believe my eyes when more tiny caterpillars started hatching out.

@shutterbug49 @joysabin @wendyfrost @phil_howcroft @carole_sandford @milaniet @pcoulson @haskar @seattlite @365projectmaxine @happypat @beryl @gardencat @30pics4jackiesdiamond @casablanca