In November 2018, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) confirmed the presence of Cydalima perspectalis (box tree moth) on Buxus spp. at three residential locations in Etobicoke, Ontario. Prior to this detection, C. perspectalis had not been reported from Canada.
Cydalima perspectalis is a moth that feeds primarily on Buxus spp. foliage and bark; it is native to Asia and, in the last decade was introduced to Europe where it has been spreading to new areas through the flight of adults and trade in ornamental Buxus spp.
Consistent with the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) and its international standards for phytosanitary measures (ISPMs), the CFIA has implemented provisional measures to contain the pest while the regulatory status of C. perspectalis is being determined. During the upcoming field season, the CFIA will work with its partners to determine the extent of the infestation to assess if this is an isolated occurrence (i.e., “transient” as per ISPM 8: Determination of pest status in an area) or if the pest is more widely distributed.