Pennsylvania
Penn State experts weigh in on the threat posed by box tree moths
Identifying box tree moths
Most adult box tree moths are primarily white, with a border of brown along the edges of their wings. Around 5% are completely brown. Skvarla says they bear a slight resemblance to melonworm moths, which are native to North America, but are otherwise distinctive for our area.
By the time you’re noticing moths, however, the damage may already be done.
“The caterpillar stage is the most damaging stage,” Skvarla said. “It’s the almost mature caterpillars that are doing the majority of feeding. It can kill boxwoods quickly. There are some reports that boxwoods will die within a year of heavy feeding. Part of the problem is the caterpillars, especially in heavy infestations, will strip all of the leaves off of the boxwood. Once they strip the leaves, if they’re still hungry, they’ll start chewing on the bark.”
Boxwoods may be able to recover from damage to their leaves, but once the caterpillars start stripping the bark, entire branches can die off — which can mean death for the plants.
“Even if they do recover, the shape of the bush is often lost,” Skvarla said. “So there goes the aesthetic value of having them in ornamental planting.”
The caterpillars are lime green with yellow, white and black stripes running along each side.
But the easiest way to identify them, Skvarla says, may be simply to keep an eye on your boxwoods.
“There are no other caterpillar pests on boxwood in North America,” Skvarla said. “So if you find a caterpillar on boxwoods, it’s a pretty good guess that it’s going to be a box tree moth.”
Dealing with box tree moths
Unlike with spotted lanternflies, Skvarla doesn’t recommend stomping any and all caterpillars or moths that you think might be box trees.
“Most times, private homeowners are going to be aware of infestations because of the damage they see to their boxwoods, not because of the moths that they’re seeing flying around,” he said. “So if your boxwood is really damaged, that’s the time to start going, ‘Well, maybe this is a box tree moth. I should look further, look for caterpillars, maybe look for moths.’”
The first step for anyone who suspects they might have an infestation is to monitor their boxwoods, says Patricia Prade, an entomologist with Penn State Extension who specializes in controlling pests and invasive species.
“You need to know if you have this insect,” Prade said. “So you need to constantly check if you see any larvae.”
One way to confirm whether or not you have an infestation is to purchase pheromone traps geared specifically toward box tree moths.
Prade says there are a few options for curbing box tree moths. Her first suggestion is to simply pluck them off, or trim away the infested areas.
“If you’re a homeowner, for example, and you see some caterpillars, you can handpick them and kill them easily,” she said. “It can be challenging if you have a lot of plants infested, but if you have just a couple, you can cut a branch or something like that. That’s very targeted, right? It’s a very good way to control them fast and not to just spray chemicals on the environment.”
Because box tree moths are so new, Prade says, studies are still being done to find out what chemicals are most effective against them while being the least damaging to other life. In the meantime, she says, homeowners can seek out pesticides targeted toward caterpillars, which are likely to kill box tree moths.
Pennsylvania
Woman extradited from Pennsylvania, charged with murder after deadly 2024 Waterbury shooting
WATERBURY, Conn. (WTNH) — A 19-year-old Waterbury woman was extradited from Pennsylvania in connection with the fatal shooting of a 38-year-old man in 2024, according to Waterbury police.
Desire Aitken was arrested on Friday and charged with murder, two counts of first-degree robbery, illegal discharge of a firearm, carrying a pistol without a permit and first-degree assault.
She was charged in connection with the death of 38-year-old Keno Williams of Waterbury, who was pronounced dead after receiving a gunshot wound to the back of his head on Jan. 30, 2024.
On the day of his death, police responded to Bertie’s Restaurant around 7:49 p.m. regarding a motor vehicle crash. They found that the car had drove through the parking lot and backyard area of a nearby home, where it struck several objects before coming to a stop.
Williams was found with a gunshot wound to the back of his head and succumbed to his injuries while receiving treatment at the hospital.
Aitken, who was a juvenile at the time of the alleged shooting, was found in Pennsylvania on April 10 and taken into custody. She was extradited and served with an arrest warrant in Waterbury on Friday.
She’s being held on a $2 million bond.
FARRELL, Pa. (MyValleyTributes) – Sherry Buchanan, 87, of Farrell, Pennsylvania, passed away surrounded by her family on Monday, May 4, 2026, in UPMC Jameson Hospital, New Castle.
Mrs. Buchanan was born on May 6, 1938, in Barkeyville, Pennsylvania, a daughter of the late Marion L. (Stanley) Smock.
Her husband, James Eugene Buchanan, whom she married on February 5, 1954, passed away on August 12, 2014.
A dedicated homemaker, Sherry loved to cook, crochet and watch wildlife in her backyard. Her life revolved around her family and her children. When her children were in school, she was highly involved in the Jefferson Elementary School PTA, and was the Past-President. Sherry also had a passion for fishing and bird watching. In her free time, she relaxed by reading and doing puzzles.
She is survived by four daughters, Jamie Dobrozdravic, Cyndi Buchanan, Regina Scott, all of Florida, and Karen Spehn (Jack), of Arizona; three sons, Robin Buchanan (Pam), of Alabama, Gregg Buchanan, of Greenville, Pennsylvania, and Jeffrey Buchanan (Sue Ann), of Farrell; 12 grandchildren, Geno, Jeffrey, Amy, Todd, Heidi, Ryan, Shana, Tyler, Spencer, John, William, and Jeffrey, Jr.; several great-grandchildren; and a dedicated niece, Joy Hayden.
In addition to her parents and husband, Sherry was preceded in death by a son, James Buchanan, Jr.; a son-in-law, Paul Dobrozdravic; and a sister, Jerry Thompson.
The family suggests memorial contributions be directed to the Shenango Valley Animal Shelter, at 2599 Broadway Rd., Hermitage, PA 16148; or ASPCA, at www.ASPCA.org
A memorial service will be at 11:00 a.m. Saturday May 9, 2026 in the chapel of Hillcrest Memorial Park, 2619 East State St., Hermitage. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.McGonigleFuneralHomeandCrematory.com
Interment: Hillcrest Memorial Park, Hermitage.
Arrangements are being handled by the J. Bradley McGonigle Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Sherry W. Buchanan, please visit our flower store.
A television tribute will air Wednesday, May 6 at the following approximate times: 6:47 a.m. on WYTV, 9:43 a.m. on WKBN, 10:58 a.m. on FOX and 8:12 p.m. on MyYTV. Video will be posted here the day of airing.
Pennsylvania
It’s back: What is ‘senior assassin’ and why are Pennsylvania police warning against it?
DAUPHIN COUNTY, Pa. (WHP) — As high school graduation season approaches, so does a rise in teens participating in a popular game known as “senior assassin.”
The Swatara Township Police Department is asking parents to speak with their kids about the risks associated with the game, where students try to “eliminate” each other by spraying each other with water guns or squirt bottles.
“The game is played outside of school hours and away from school property but has been reported to be causing disruptions and posing risks to participants and bystanders alike,” police wrote Tuesday in a news release.
READ MORE | What is the ‘Senior Assassin’ game?
The police department said there have been reports of students playing the game outside of local businesses and alarming the public.
There are online resources that advise students avoid private property and use brightly-colored water guns, police said, but not all students are following those rules.
Police said some students have used paintball guns, which can lead to injuries.
“We urge parents and guardians to speak with their children about the potential risks associated with participating in this game and to discourage them from taking part,” the Swatara Township Police Department wrote. “The safety of students and community members is our top priority, and we must work together to ensure a safe and respectful environment for everyone.”
Another Pennsylvania police department out of Bucks County, the Buckingham Township Police Department, said the game sometimes results in 911 calls reporting “armed subjects.”
“In case you are unfamiliar, Senior Assassin is a game that involves high school students ‘stalking’ and ‘shooting’ each other with water guns in an attempt to be the last senior standing,” Buckingham Township police wrote. “We have heard that some students are using Nerf guns or silly string. Think of this game as ‘hide and seek.’”
The Northern Lancaster County Regional Police Department also spoke out about the game back in 2023, warning that students sometimes use water pistole that could easily be confused for real firearms.
“This behavior, though intentionally innocent, could easily be perceived, reported, or confronted as suspicious behavior by unknowing persons and outcomes could have serious consequences,” the police department had said.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE | ‘Senior Assassination’ game among high schoolers concerns police in Lancaster County
While the Buckingham Township Police Department said it does not condone the game, it offered the following safety tips for students who might decide to play anyway:
- Do not use realistic-looking weapons; use clearly identifiable, brightly colored water guns.
- Do not wear masks or behave in ways that would make a reasonable person to believe you are a threat.
- Avoid trespassing on private property or playing in public spaces, especially at night.
- Immediately comply with any police officer’s instructions and stop playing if instructed to do so.
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