State officials are warning about the potential spread of a recent invasive species.
Native to East Asia, the Box Tree Moth first became a pest in Europe and Canada before it was first spotted in New York in 2021.
The species made its first appearance in the Barnstable, Bourne, and Sandwich areas last summer.
The caterpillars of the moths feed on the leaves of boxwood shrubs.
They are yellow-green with black markings. Jennifer Forman-Orth with the state Department of Agricultural Resources says little is known about the life cycle of the moths, and urges nurseries to have a plan in place to prevent the spread.
(Photo credit FRANCOIS NASCIMBENI/AFP via Getty Images)
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