CINCINNATI, Ohio-To prevent the spread of the invasive box tree moth, the Ohio Department of Agriculture has issued a quarantine for four counties in the Greater Cincinnati region and two in the Dayton area. The moth, originally from Asia, poses a threat to boxwood shrubs popular in the region.
The quarantine, effective since April 11, imposes regulations on the movement of boxwood shrubs within and outside quarantined counties. First spotted in Ohio in June 2023, the moth’s larvae feed on boxwood leaves, potentially devastating the plants. Measures include restrictions on transporting boxwood shrubs across quarantine boundaries.
