Agnieszka Gergont, press spokesperson for Bolesławiec City Hall:

The director of MZGM in Bolesławiec reported that sprays have been used since the beginning of May to protect boxwood from the Asian moth.

Let us recall. Last week, we reported on a submission from a reader, who wrote in an email to the editorial office:

I wanted to raise an environmental issue that has seriously affected Bolesławiec and the surrounding area this year, and which has not been addressed anywhere so far, unless I have missed something. The city has been attacked by a pest originating in Asia called the box tree moth (or Asian box tree moth). It is a type of butterfly that, although not directly harmful to humans, can cause serious problems.

The larvae of this butterfly (caterpillars) feed primarily on boxwood leaves, and it is mainly on boxwood that these butterflies lay their eggs. The caterpillars are so voracious that they can literally “eat” an entire boxwood plant within a few weeks.

The pest’s activity is already visible in the city; most boxwood plants have already been partially eaten. This pest is active from the end of April until September, so serious damage will soon be visible in the city. Several generations of this pest appear during the year, from the end of April until September, and each subsequent generation is larger.

Why am I reporting the problem? There is a lot of boxwood in the city: not only on private properties, but also in municipal green areas. The pest primarily attacks boxwood, but it can also “eat” other plants growing next to boxwood, including trees. It is so voracious that the plant literally disappears before one’s eyes.

In Bolesławiec, I noticed larvae not only on boxwood, but also on trees near the military unit (they fall from the trees). Gardeners write online that commonly known and available chemical products are not very effective against this pest. This pest is dangerous for several reasons. It completely destroys boxwood and the plants growing next to it. Because it feeds mainly on boxwood, which is naturally poisonous, the butterflies also contain poison after emerging from their chrysalises. Cases of serious poisoning, for example of cats hunting the butterflies, have been described online.

Another danger this pest may bring in the future is the fact that it is a delicacy for the Asian hornet, and the first Asian hornets have already appeared in Poland. The widespread presence of the box tree moth could attract these hornets. In England, it was noticed last year that the larvae of these butterflies are eaten by jackdaws [...].

And added:

It is therefore worth considering protecting jackdaws in our city; it is better to have jackdaws than hornets.