Fruittree Leafroller

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Common names: Fruittree leafroller

Scientific name: Archips argyrospilus

Region: This Caterpillar is found throughout North America.

Life cycle: This insect produces on generation each year and overwinters as an egg.

Physical Description: This 1-inch long caterpillar is green with a dark brown head, covered with fine spines.  The adult moth is a brownish yellow with mottling and two beige marks on the margin of its wings.  The wingspan of this moth is 3/4 of an inch.  The eggs are a pale yellow or brown with a brownish varnish-like covering and are laid on twigs and branches of the host plants in masses of up to 100.

Feeding characteristics: This pest attacks apple and other fruit trees by spinning webs around its leaves at the tops of branches and feeding on Bugs, leaves, and small fruits.  The mature apple will have deep russeted scars.

Controls: Handpicking is usually adequate control.  The caterpillar has various Trichogramma Wasps as its predators along with the Spined Soldier Beetle .  If damage is intolerable, apply dormant-oil just before the buds open or Bacillus thuringiensis after the caterpillars appear.