Which insects/caterpillars like box (buxus)?

[Gaina]

I just received the best christmas present ever - a miniature topiary set with 3 box plants and 3 topiary shapes (2 cats and a cockrel).

Can anyone give me an idea of which insects and caterpillars like this plant and live in south-west england? I will shape 2 of the plants but would like to keep one natural for wildlife.

[Paul mabbott]

Not many - that's one of the reasons it's used!
This uses it but you might want to search the site thoroughly:
UKMoths - Red-barred Tortrix Ditula angustiorana

For no reason that I can see, you often find good numbers of predators in box - ladybirds and spiders especially. I don't think that trimming the bush will make much difference to the invertebrates as long as you don't do it in late spring or early summer - and kep the trimmings nearby for a week or two ...

Originally Posted by Gaina

I just received the best christmas present ever - a miniature topiary set with 3 box plants and 3 topiary shapes (2 cats and a cockrel).

Can anyone give me an idea of which insects and caterpillars like this plant and live in south-west england? I will shape 2 of the plants but would like to keep one natural for wildlife.

[Gaina]

Originally Posted by Paul mabbott

Not many - that's one of the reasons it's used!
This uses it but you might want to search the site thoroughly:
UKMoths - Red-barred Tortrix Ditula angustiorana

For no reason that I can see, you often find good numbers of predators in box - ladybirds and spiders especially. I don't think that trimming the bush will make much difference to the invertebrates as long as you don't do it in late spring or early summer - and kep the trimmings nearby for a week or two ...

Thanks for the link . I was thinking more of letting the third one grow as it likes for birds etc .

Of all the new additions to my garden that have encouraged new species of moth and butterfly, I have to say the herbs have been most successful!

[aeshna5]

There is a shieldbug relative the Box Bug, Gonocerus acuteangulatus, which used to be a major rarity, restricted to Box on Box Hill but since 1990's has spread around south-east + maybe beyond + is using a wide variety of plants in addtion to Box now.

It has been recorded at least as far west as Bristol, so could be heading your way- a smart looking bug!

Just be aware of Box Blight which is a fairly new (to UK anyway) fungal pathogen of Box which is particularly prone to attack the plant as a hedge/topiary as this provides the more humid microclimate for the fungus.

[Gaina]

Originally Posted by aeshna5

There is a shieldbug relative the Box Bug, Gonocerus acuteangulatus, which used to be a major rarity, restricted to Box on Box Hill but since 1990's has spread around south-east + maybe beyond + is using a wide variety of plants in addtion to Box now.

It has been recorded at least as far west as Bristol, so could be heading your way- a smart looking bug!

Just be aware of Box Blight which is a fairly new (to UK anyway) fungal pathogen of Box which is particularly prone to attack the plant as a hedge/topiary as this provides the more humid microclimate for the fungus.

Yes, that is a smart little bug, isn't it? Thanks for the info on that fungus, I'll be sure to keep an eye out for it .

I'm just waiting for the next dry day so I can pot the plants up - they are sitting in my bedroom at the moment.