The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) has established a quarantine for box tree moth in Clarke and Frederick counties and the city of Winchester. The move comes after inspectors found the invasive pest at several sites in these areas during July and August 2025.
Box tree moth, native to East Asia, poses a threat to boxwood plants due to its caterpillars’ ability to defoliate and potentially kill host plants. Since its first detection in New York in 2021, the pest has spread to other parts of the United States.
According to VDACS, staff treated all identified sites over the summer and fall of 2025. However, additional surveys showed that box tree moth has become established across Clarke and Frederick counties as well as Winchester.
The new quarantine aims to slow the spread of the insect by restricting movement of all boxwood plants out of these quarantined areas unless a permit or compliance agreement is obtained from VDACS. Businesses can self-certify shipments under a compliance agreement that requires regular inspections, trapping, treatment during active periods, and notification when shipments leave the quarantined area. Permits and agreements are provided free of charge.
“Early detection and rapid response are vital for the management of any newly introduced plant pest,” VDACS stated. The agency encourages property owners and residents to report suspected damage using its Invasive Species Reporting Tool.
Further information about identifying box tree moth damage is available through Virginia Cooperative Extension’s resources (www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/content/dam/pubs_ext_vt_edu/ENTO/ENTO-445/ENTO-445.pdf). Additional details on BTM can be found at www.vdacs.virginia.gov/plant-industry-services.shtml or through USDA APHIS at www.aphis.usda.gov/plant-pests-diseases/box-tree-moth.
For questions or to obtain permits or compliance agreements for moving boxwood plants out of quarantined areas, contact VDACS Office of Plant Industry Services at 804.786.3515 or via email at complianceagreements@vdacs.virginia.gov.
