Box tree moth Quarantine Expanded; Now includes Cumberland, Atlantic, and Cape May Counties

as posted by Tim Waller, Rutgers Plant & Pest Advisory

This PPA post has no legal bearing. 

This is a long but extremely important post about the expansion of the Box Tree Moth (BTM) Quarantine into the major boxwood production counties of New Jersey. This impacts everyone in NJ – Please read this message. Click HERE to read entire Advisory.

On August 21, 2026, the Department and USDA staff further detected Box Tree Moth on residential plantings in Commercial Township, Cumberland County, New Jersey; and the detection of Box Tree Moth in Cumberland County also threatens the nearby area of Atlantic County. USDA-APHIS has previously detected Box Tree Moth in Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio, and Michigan, and every one of these states established intrastate quarantines that restrict the movement of host plants, plant parts, and any articles capable of harboring life stages of the Box Tree Moth.

All life stages of box tree moth are active in southern NJ as of today, 8/27/2026.

Important information from: Box Tree Moth Quarantine Order for Cape May, Cumberland and Atlantic Counties New Jersey State Board of Agriculture, Approved by State Board of Agriculture on August 26, 2026 – PLEASE READ THE DOCUMENT – This is a ‘Stop Shipment’ level event in those counties.

C. Quarantine area

1. By order of the State Board of Agriculture pursuant to N.J.S.A. 4:1-21.5 and N.J.S.A. 4:7, in order to control the spread of Box Tree Moth the following Counties are hereby quarantined:
2. Cape May County
3. Cumberland County 
4. Atlantic County 
5. This Order shall not be construed to limit the Department’s authority to quarantine additional counties, as necessary, consistent with its existing statutory authorities.”

II. THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the following requirements and restrictions concerning the movement of Boxwood plants, debris, and other regulated articles shall take effect:

Restrictions on movement of plant material; Disposal

1. No business may move any regulated articles listed in this Order outside the quarantine area designated in this Order without a signed Compliance Agreement and certification issued by the Department. 
2. A private individual or non-business entity seeking to move any regulated articles listed in this Order outside the quarantine area designated in this Order (Cape May, Cumberland, and Atlantic Counties) must first receive prior written authorization from the Department.
3. Infested or dead Regulated articles must be disposed of within the designated quarantined area (Cape May, Cumberland, Atlantic Counties). This requirement is applicable to all businesses, including those with a signed Compliance Agreement and certification.

Regulated articles 

1. Regulated articles are as follows:
2. Boxwood plants (Buxus species).
3. Boxwood plant debris or dead boxwood plant material;
4. The Box Tree Moths at any life stage; and d. Any means of conveyance for the Boxwood plant including, but not limited to: soil, pots, containers, and truck beds, or when it is determined by the Department that the regulated article presents a risk of spreading Box Tree Moth.



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.

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.

Industry Expertise at the Table: Three NJNLA Members Appointed to State Invasive Species Council



Governor Mikie Sherrill has appointed three NJNLA members to serve on the newly formed New Jersey Invasive Species Council.  These members, representing both the nursery and landscape sectors, collectively bring more than 128 years of industry experience to this important role.

The Council will play a critical role in advising the State on invasive species policy, management strategies, and recommendations that may impact New Jersey's environment, agriculture, nursery industry, landscape professionals, and consumers. We are grateful for their willingness to serve, their commitment to New Jersey's green industry, and their continued support of the members of the New Jersey Nursery & Landscape Association.

"These appointments reflect the depth of expertise that exists within New Jersey's nursery and landscape industry," said NJNLA President Tom Knezick. Steve, Ed, and David have each dedicated decades to advancing horticulture, supporting agriculture, and promoting environmental stewardship. We are proud to see their experience recognized and look forward to their contributions as the Council begins its important work."

The NJNLA is proud to have the following industry leaders serving on the Council:

Steven Wagner has operated his nursery stock sales business “Professional Horticultural Services LLC” based in Franklinville, NJ since 2015, representing nurseries nationwide. Prior to that he served as General Manager at Ferrucci Nurseries, Tuckahoe Nurseries and Brock Farms. Steven has always been an active participant in the NJ nursery industry by serving on the NJNLA Board of Directors, NJ State Board of Agriculture and most recently the NJ DEP Water Supply Advisory Council as an advocate for the nursery industry. He was honored with the distinction of being named NJNLA Nurseryman of the Year for 2012. Steven will bring his multiple decades of nursery experience and travels to advocate for the nursery industry on the NJ Invasive Species Council by stressing the concept of scientific evidence being paramount to declaring a plant as “Invasive”. 

Ed Overdevest has been part of the family business since childhood and rejoined the company after graduating from college in 1975. He currently serves as President of Overdevest Nurseries, LP and holds a B.S. degree from Cornell University.

Ed serves on the Board of Directors of the Cohansey Area Watershed Association and is Chairman of the Bridgeton Area Chamber of Commerce’s “Love Where You Live” Committee. Throughout his distinguished career, he has served on the Executive Board of the Cumberland County Board of Agriculture, the New Jersey State Board of Agriculture, Garden State Farm Credit, and the Bridgeton Area Chamber of Commerce. He has also chaired both the Upper Deerfield Township Economic Development Committee and the Upper Deerfield Township Planning Board.



On a national level, Ed served as Chairman of the Board of Directors for AmericanHort, helping to advance and promote the horticulture industry across the United States. A long-time member and supporter of the New Jersey Nursery & Landscape Association, Ed served as NJNLA President in 1988 and was honored as the Association’s Horticultural Professional of the Year (then known as “Nurseryman of the Year”) in 1991.

David DeFrange is a highly respected figure in the New Jersey landscape and agricultural community, recognized as an accomplished landscape designer, nurseryman, educator, and state advocate. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Bioscience and Ornamental Horticulture Environmental Design from Delaware Valley University. In 1994, David founded his Frenchtown-based business, Copper Creek. Starting as a landscape design/build firm, he successfully expanded the company to include a 70-acre farm nursery where he grows high-quality native plant species and cultivars of shade trees. David’s passion for industry leadership began over a decade ago, serving on the Board of Directors for NJNLA and as Chair of the CNLP Committee. His strategic vision was further shaped through participation in the New Jersey Agricultural Leadership Society Development Program and service as Vice President of the Hunterdon County Board of Agriculture. Most notably, David was appointed as the Nursery Representative on the NJ State Board of Agriculture, serving two consecutive terms and two years as its President. During his tenure, he worked tirelessly to unify the state’s nursery and landscape industry, ensuring all constituents had a voice at the state level. He has been a legislative champion, successfully finding common ground on challenging issues such as the Invasive Species bill.