Invasive caterpillar a threat to box hedge plants

A Jersey environmentalist has warned that an invasive species of caterpillar could mean an end to the box hedge plant in the island.

Box tree caterpillars are the larvae of the box tree moth and feed on box hedge plants.

The species is native to south-east Asia but has been in the British Isles since 2007, according to expert Bob Tompkins.

He said unless scientists could develop a box hedge that was naturally resistant to the species, gardeners would "lose it" entirely.

The caterpillar is green with black and white stripes running along its back.

Mr Tompkins said "like all caterpillars, they're ferocious eaters".

He said the caterpillars eat the box plant and the damage they do also opened the plant up to infection.

The UK's Royal Horticultural Society said gardeners would likely notice the caterpillar's presence if their box plants had webbing on their leaves or were losing leaves.

Mr Tompkins said the proliferation of the species in recent years was likely to do with the climate.

He said a rise in the humidity and temperature in Jersey had created a "much more sympathetic temperature range" for the caterpillar.

He also said the insect was spreading and had recently been found in North America.

He said: "It's typical of an invasive species - you take it out of its habitat, it doesn't have the predators to keep it under control and away it goes."

Mr Tompkins said gardeners should check for box tree caterpillars from the spring until early autumn.

He also said box hedge plants that have been badly damaged by the caterpillars should be replaced.

He said: "I'm afraid we will have to adapt to finding something that is similar to, but probably not as good as, the box plant and go from there."

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