Box Tree Moth CONFIRMED in Cape May, NJ

Cape May County NJ, with inset of Rio Grande (township)

Box tree moth (BTM) has been confirmed in Cape May County, NJ.

An official NJDA press-release expected within days – this PPA post has no legal bearing. 

• What is happening:
• Box tree moth (Cydalima perspectalis) has been reported and Federally confirmed in the area of Rio Grande, Cape May County.
• USDA and NJDA have established a monitoring zone surrounding the infestation.
• A quarantine will be established for all of Cape May County, NJ.
• The quarantine will apply to ANYONE moving boxwoods out of Cape May County
• NJDA has an official reporting tool and website for BTM
• If you see this pest 1) Report it, 2) Eradicate it, 3) remove it (if applicable) following guidelines

Please click the read more tab below for important information

Who this impacts:

• ANYONE moving plants out of Cape May County, NJ will need to follow soon-to-be-released verbiage set forth by the New Jersey Department of Agriculture based on the Compliance Agreement for Production Nurseries in BTM Regulated Nurseries (click here) [PLEASE READ & UNDERSTAND THIS]
• The Compliance Agreement will specifically impact production nurseries, plant sale businesses, and landscape professionals moving plants out of the quarantine zone.

Steps to take if you see this pest:

1. Report BTM observations
   • New Jersey Department of Agriculture – Box Tree Moth (BTM) website (click here)
   • Direct link to NJDA – BTM Reporting Tool (click here)
2. THEN Eradication:
   • Treat infested plants with Compliance Agreement cited materials (within Compliance Agreement – Appendix 1). Follow all label requirements, especially REIs. The label is the law.
   • Only after treatment efficacy has been confirmed and REI completed can you consider moving to the next step.
3. (If applicable) Removal:
   • Once REI is complete, and the pesticide treatments are lethal to BTM, remove infested boxwoods. Boxwoods should be double bagged and taken to an in-county municipal dump.

Adapted from – Compliance Agreement – Appendix 1 – Pesticide List

Please educate yourself about this pest – Resources

If you see any significant amount of caterpillars in a boxwood plant it is EXTREMELY likely to be Box Tree Moth (BTM)

• Video: Click here for-  “Demystifying Box Tree Moth” – HRI 
• Factsheet: Box Tree Moth: Fact Sheet, Management & Visual Guide
• OSU Guide: What to look for with Box Tree (Boxwood) Moth
• USDA-APHIS Box Tree Moth : APHIS BTM Landing page
• [Draft] Compliance agreement: National Plant Board – Box Tree Moth

Left: BTM Damage. Center: BTM Caterpillars. Right: Adult BTM moths.

Stay informed

• Sign up for the 2026 – Rutgers Ornamental IPM Program – click here to sign up
• Program is free, but registration is required – Registration includes:
  • Site visit to your ornamental nursery/farm from Rutgers agents
  • Delivered printed IPM resources (Guides, factsheets, bulletins)
  • Free pheromone & sticky trap kit + guidance on setup/monitoring (for commercial nursery/greenhouse and Christmas tree farms)
  • Access to live bi-weekly webinars (Zoom)
  • (Next session – TUESDAY 6/23 @ 12PM)
  • Every Second and Fourth, Tuesday, April through September
• Visit the Rutgers Ornamental IPM Website Rutgers Ornamental IPM Website (click here) for updated webinar videos.