Independent comparisons. We may earn from shop links. More info

How to use a box tree moth trap

Updated: 22 October 2026

The trap is on the bench, the lure is still in its foil, and the bucket is dry. Used like that, it will not show you anything. This is how to use a box tree moth trap you already own: when to hang it in Britain, how to fit the lure without cutting it open, how much water to add when the leaflets disagree, and how often to empty it. It is not a ranking. Whether a full bucket saves the hedge sits on [do box tree moth traps work](/hub/pest-control/box-tree-moth-trap/sub/box-tree-moth-trap-do-they-work). Which body to buy is the [box tree moth trap comparison](/hub/pest-control/box-tree-moth-trap). Products Compared, 21 October 2026. Follow the leaflet when it speaks. A qualifying purchase can earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

The trap is on the bench, the lure is still in its foil, and the bucket is dry. Used like that, it will not show you anything.

Our top picks

BuxusPro BuxTrap refillable box tree moth trap

Best overall

BuxusPro BuxTrap refillable box tree moth trap
7.1/10about £16.99
View offer
IPM Direct IPM Direct box tree moth trap

Rank 2

IPM Direct IPM Direct box tree moth trap
8.2/10about £18.99
View offer
SWISSINNO SWISSINNO box tree moth trap

Best value

SWISSINNO SWISSINNO box tree moth trap
5.3/10about £15.37
View offer
On this page
  1. 1.When the trap goes out
  2. 2.Fit the lure
  3. 3.Water and height
  4. 4.Check and reset

When the trap goes out

Hang it for the flight season, about April to October, or mid-March to October where Agralan and No More Mr Nice Guy print that window. The RHS says to check plants from early spring and to monitor moths from May, because females can lay even if the overwintering generation never used your bush. An empty trap in a cold April week is not a clear garden. One BuxTrap reviewer caught nothing for three weeks, then three to five moths a night once it turned hot. Most feeding is March to October, and small caterpillars can sit in webbed leaves through winter. Part the foliage as well as the bucket. At the end of the season, store the dry body out of frost and sun. A wet winter bucket is a hazard for children, dogs, and hedgehogs.

Fit the lure

Open one foil sachet when you hang, not the night before. The pheromone is in the material. Vitax says the lure can look empty and that you must not pierce it. Dragonfli says do not cut the rubber bung. An IPM reviewer who caught moths left the cap on and dropped the lure into the green mesh basket. A PlantPro video left buyers unsure whether the vial lids stay on. When your leaflet is clear, it wins. When it is silent, do not slice the capsule. Seat the lure in the cage under the lid so it stays dry. Andermatt and the older EBTS UK note both keep it out of the water. Dropping it into the bucket drowns the dispenser. Wear gloves: Russell IPM notes that pheromone on skin can be wiped onto other surfaces. One lure is the usual pattern. BuxusPro’s shop text says a BuxTrap takes two BuxPhero lures. Do not load two unless your leaflet says so. Spare-sachet storage is on the box tree moth pheromone refill page.
BuxusPro BuxTrap refillable box tree moth trap

Testsieger

BuxusPro BuxTrap refillable box tree moth trap
7.1/10about £16.99
View offer

Water and height

Andermatt and the EBTS 2016 setup use about 5 cm of water plus a drop of detergent. No More Mr Nice Guy says about 3 cm. A Vitax sheet says 1–2 cm. BuxTrap says about 5 cm. Do not average those into one official depth. Use the leaflet. If it is silent, a few centimetres, closer to 3–5 cm than to a full bucket, plus detergent so moths sink. Height disagrees too. Andermatt says about 1.5–2 metres, SWISSINNO 1–2 metres, BuxTrap 1–1.5 metres. An EBTS 2016 note used about 30 cm near the box, and a later note treats shade as more important than a height between the ground and 1.5 metres. If the leaflet is silent, hang at roughly head height, in shade, close to the box, and out of reach of children and pets. Detergent water is not a drink. A wardrobe is the wrong room. Coverage lines such as 180 square metres are on the box tree moth trap buying guide.

Check and reset

Andermatt asks for a check once or twice a week. Vitax and No More Mr Nice Guy say at least twice a week, and a bucket of rotting insects can put later moths off. Top the water back up and keep the lure dry. Change the lure on the weeks for your pack. Andermatt uses about six weeks from opening. Russell IPM says every five to six weeks. Dragonfli says about six to eight. COMPO’s two months apply to that kit only. BuxPhero says up to eight weeks, while one buyer still changes at about six. If your leaflet says six, change at six. Write the date on the unopened foil. A catch is male moths. Caterpillars stay on the leaves. An empty cold week is not an all-clear. If you are unsure a spray is authorised for home use, stop. The Health and Safety Executive puts legal responsibility on the user of a pesticide.

Common questions

When do I hang a box tree moth trap in Britain?
Have it up about April to October, or from mid-March if your leaflet says so. The RHS says to check plants from early spring and to monitor moths from May. An empty trap in a cold April week is not an all-clear.
How high should it hang if one note says 30 cm and another says head height?
Follow the leaflet. Andermatt prints about 1.5–2 metres, BuxTrap about 1–1.5 metres, and an EBTS 2016 note used about 30 cm. Do not average those figures. If the sheet is silent, use roughly head height, out of reach of children and pets.
How much water, and do I add washing-up liquid?
Use the depth your leaflet prints: 1–2 cm on a Vitax sheet, about 3 cm on one listing, about 5 cm at Andermatt and in the EBTS 2016 setup. Several add a drop of detergent so moths sink. It is not a pet drink. If the leaflet is silent, use a few centimetres.
Do I cut the lure open?
No. The lure can look empty because the pheromone is in the material. Vitax says do not pierce it. Dragonfli says do not cut the bung. Keep it in the dry cage. Fit one unless your leaflet says two.
How often do I empty it and change the lure?
Check at least weekly, twice a week if the sheet asks, and top the water up. Change the lure on the weeks for that pack, commonly four to six, sometimes up to eight, or about two months on COMPO’s dispensers. Write the date down.
What if the bucket is empty in April, and can I leave it up all winter?
An empty cold week is inconclusive. Females are not attracted. Check the leaves, and check again when it is warmer. At the end of the season, remove the lure, empty the water, and store the dry body away from frost and strong sun.

Related pages

Box tree moth trap

Best box tree moth trap: the top pick and who to skip

Box tree moth trap buying guide: kit versus refill

Do box tree moth traps work, or only as a monitor?

Box tree moth pheromone refill packs for a used trap

Sources

Public UK sources used for this comparison. Shelf prices, stars and review counts are the amazon.co.uk figures captured for these twelve listings. Last checked 20 October 2026.

  1. RHS, Box tree caterpillar (retrieved 20 October 2026)
  2. RHS, Box tree moth review (2019 PDF) (retrieved 20 October 2026)
  3. Defra, Box tree caterpillar factsheet, June 2024 (retrieved 20 October 2026)
  4. Butterfly Conservation, Box moth policy note, April 2024 (retrieved 20 October 2026)
  5. HSE, Pesticides in the garden and home (retrieved 20 October 2026)
  6. Andermatt UK, How to monitor box tree caterpillar (retrieved 20 October 2026)
  7. Dragonfli, Box tree moth trap lure PDF (retrieved 20 October 2026)