APHIS Establishes a Box Tree Moth (Cydalima perspectalis) Quarantine in West Virginia

FOR INFORMATION AND ACTION
DA-2025-52
December 8, 2025

Subject:    APHIS Establishes a Box Tree Moth (Cydalima perspectalis) Quarantine in West Virginia

To:      State, Tribal, and Territory Agricultural Regulatory Officials

Effective immediately, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), in cooperation with the West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA), is adding the entire State of West Virginia to the box tree moth (Cydalima perspectalis; BTM) quarantined areas. 

APHIS is taking this action in response to confirmed BTM detections in Berkeley County on June 4, and in Morgan County on July 3. This Federal Order supersedes Federal Order DA-2025-29.

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.

The APHIS BTM webpage has the attached Federal Order and additional information on this pest. 

For additional information you may contact:

Devon Gaydos
Assistant National Policy Manager 
240-457-0297
devon.gaydos@usda.gov 

/s/

Matthew A. Rhoads
Acting Deputy Administrator
Plant Protection and Quarantine

Attachment: Federal Order (198.05 KB)