as posted by Tim Waller, Rutgers Plant & Pest Advisory

NOTE: An official NJDA press-release is expected within days – this Rutgers PPA post has no legal bearing. Map is showing Cape May County NJ, with inset of Rio Grande (township).

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

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 Template (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:

Report BTM observations

• New Jersey Department of Agriculture – Box Tree Moth (BTM) website (click here)
• Direct link to NJDA – BTM Reporting Tool (click here)

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.

Removal (if applicable):

• 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.



Read entire Pest Advisory by clicking HERE.

Please feel free to share this information with anyone who may benefit from it.

NJNLA will continue to keep members informed as additional details become available. Stay tuned for further updates, including information on a potential in-person meeting where members can receive a comprehensive update and, if available, participate in compliance training.