APHIS Establishes a Box Tree Moth (Cydalima perspectalis) Quarantine in Maryland and Pennsylvania
FOR INFORMATION AND ACTION
DA-2026-24
August 4, 2026
Subject: APHIS Establishes a Box Tree Moth (Cydalima perspectalis) Quarantine in Maryland and Pennsylvania
To: State, Tribal, and Territory Agricultural Regulatory Officials
Effective immediately, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), in cooperation with the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) and the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA), is adding Allegany, Frederick, Garrett, and Washington Counties in Maryland, and Franklin County in Pennsylvania to the box tree moth (Cydalima perspectalis; BTM) quarantined areas. This Federal quarantine mirrors the intrastate quarantines that MDA established on March 6, 2026, and PDA established on May 6, 2026. APHIS is taking this action in response to confirmed BTM detections in Washington County, Maryland on July 10, 2025, and in Franklin County, Pennsylvania on July 28, 2025. This Federal Order supersedes Federal Order DA-2026-23.
To prevent the spread of BTM, APHIS considers it necessary to regulate the interstate movement of regulated articles of boxwood from quarantined areas. Establishments may only move boxwood plants interstate from quarantined areas if the establishment is operating under a compliance agreement, and only if the shipment is accompanied by a state-issued certificate certifying that the establishment has met the requirements of this Federal Order and their compliance agreement. These requirements facilitate the safe interstate movement of boxwood plants by producers and distributors. State agricultural authorities may prescribe additional safeguards and protocols.
APHIS prohibits movement of all other regulated articles of boxwood, including plant parts, pieces, cuttings, clippings, debris, and any portion of the plant, alive or dead, except for decorative purposes
For future changes to the BTM quarantined areas, APHIS will publish a description of the BTM quarantine area expansion on the APHIS BTM webpage and notify State, Territory, and Tribal Plant Regulatory Officials. This site has the attached Federal Order and additional information on this pest.
For additional information you may contact:
Devon Gaydos
National Policy Manager
240-457-0297
devon.gaydos@usda.gov
/s/
Matthew A. Rhoads
Deputy Administrator
Plant Protection and Quarantine