Most gardeners will be aware of the processionary caterpillar and the problems it causes. Now its cousin, the box caterpillar and moth, from east Asia is making strong inroads around Europe destroying acres of box tree in its path. Mme. c, fortunately, has been on top of this situation since last year and daily inspects and removes the caterpillars by hand from the dozen or so plants we purloined while visiting the countryside several years ago. However, our neighbour who lives in Paris and has several properties scattered around Europe hasn't visited here since early last summer and his once magnificent 2 metre high boxwood hedge surrounding his property has been all but obliterated by these insects within nine or ten months. Anyone suffering the effects of these caterpillars or is just interested, the European Boxwood and Topiary Society has all the info here.