There’s one downside of biological insecticides – they aren’t as potent as the chemical alternatives and so will need to be reapplied several times to truly cause any damage to these unruly pests. However, if you buy TOPBUXUS Xentari, the necessary retreatments are limited. I used this product 3 times on my box hedge, and it worked a treat. Here’s how to use it:

The head of caterpillars is dominated by what look like two huge eyes but is actually the epicranium or ‘head capsule’ of the caterpillar. The head capsule is divided by an inverted Y-shaped line extending down from the top of the head. This Y-shaped line distinguishes caterpillars from any other insect larva – for example, Beetle or Sawfly. Chilli spray – Add 3 ½ ozs of dried red chilli powder to 4 pints of boiling water. Simmer for 5 minutes. Then add 4 pints of cold water. Add a tablespoon of washing up liquid. Let your mixture stand for 24 hours. Then spray your caterpillars. This mixture kills caterpillars. Xentari may not be available in your local garden centre, but it is readily available online. 2. Step Two: Switch to Chemical Insecticides

Garden visitor

Another symptom of box caterpillar moth presence is the appearance of white webbing across the box foliage. To treat, try Yates Nature’s Way Caterpillar Killer- Dipel. The product is based on naturally occurring bacteria ( Bacillus thuringiensis) which acts as a stomach poison against caterpillars. The product will only affect caterpillars, so your ‘good bugs’ are safe. Follow the label directions and it will work against caterpillars in your garden. If you are among those who rely on chemical solutions, then your choice is synthetic pyrethroids based on such active ingredients as bifenthrin, cyfluthrin, malathion and permethrin. Dr. Ayanava Majumdar, Alabama Extension Entomologist, advise using cypermethrin for most caterpillar species but warns against over-spraying to avoid making pests resistant to the insecticide. You can use a thin mesh covering to cover your plants to keep off caterpillars and other crawly pests.

Pheromone traps and manual removal can only do so much to get rid of box caterpillars. When these aren’t sufficient, you’ll need an insecticide. The most environmentally friendly of these options is a biological insecticide, also known as a natural or organic insecticide. The RHS recommends that you don't use pesticides. Most pesticides (including organic types) reduce biodiversity, including natural enemies, impact soil health and have wider adverse environmental effects. For tent caterpillars, drop the webs or nests into a bag and dispose of the bag. But wear gloves when dealing with them. If you’re like me and hate killing any animal, you may be disinclined to “dispose” of them using either of these methods. Unfortunately, box caterpillars leave you few alternative options! While you could normally leave caterpillars and other insects out for the birds, our native birds don’t like box caterpillars much. But how do you know it’s a box caterpillar infestation? To recognise this, you need to know the signs. What Are the Signs of a Box Caterpillar Infestation?The caterpillars have a range of natural enemies, including parasitoid flies, parasitoid wasps, social wasps, spiders and ants Blend, and then let the mixture stand for at least 24 hours. Spray wherever needed to keep these hungry eaters and their friends off of your plants. 5. Chili Spray