Invasive Shrub-Eating Moths Discovered In PA

PENNSYLVANIA — A highly invasive and destructive insect has surfaced for the first time in Pennsylvania, raising concerns that the infusion could harm the state's highly lucrative nursing and landscaping industries.

New to North America, box tree moths were discovered in two Erie County cemeteries, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture said on Tuesday. The insect eats and destroys boxwoods, the nation's largest selling evergreen shrub.

While the moths pose no threat to humans or our feeding supply,“It threatens livelihoods in our nursery and landscape industry, as well as the parks and gardens that enrich our communities and feed tourism dollars into our economy," Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding said in a statement.

The nursery and landscaping industries generate more than $4 billion annually for the state's economy and are responsible for more than 63,000 jobs, according to agriculture officials. Pennsylvania has the nation's largest number of floriculture businesses producing garden and bedding plants, potted plants and cut flowers.

Because the moths spread primarily through shipping and sales of infected boxwoods, the state has issued a quarantine requiringennsylvania’s quarantine plant merchants in Erie County to ensure that boxwood sold in the county stays in the county, unless the business has a compliance agreement with the agriculture department.