APHIS Expands the Box Tree Moth (Cydalima perspectalis) Quarantine in Ohio

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FOR INFORMATION AND ACTION
DA-2026-23
August 4, 2026

Subject: APHIS Expands the Box Tree Moth (Cydalima perspectalis) Quarantine in Ohio 

To: State, Tribal, and Territory Agricultural Regulatory Officials

Effective immediately, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), in cooperation with the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA), is adding Ashtabula, Clark, Cuyahoga, Lake, Lorain, Lucas, and Preble Counties to the box tree moth (Cydalima perspectalis; BTM) quarantined areas. This Federal quarantine mirrors the intrastate quarantine that ODA expanded on January 30, 2026.

APHIS is taking this action in response to confirmed BTM detections in Ashtabula County on August 26, 2025, in Clark County on July 28, 2025, in Cuyahoga County on July 17, 2025, in Lake County on October 8, 2025, in Lorain County on September 26, 2025, in Lucas County on October 23, 2025, and in Preble County on July 14, 2025. This Federal Order supersedes Federal Order DA-2026-11 (178.57 KB).

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 
Deputy Administrator 
Plant Protection and Quarantine

Attachment: DA-2026-23 (200.98 KB)