Leaf-roller
Guides
Aceria caryae
Pecan Leafroll Mite
Aceria caryae, commonly known as the Pecan Leafroll Mite, is an eriophyid mite in the family Eriophyidae. These microscopic, worm-like mites are plant parasites that infest pecan (Carya illinoinensis) and related hickory species (Carya spp.). Eriophyid mites are characterized by their elongated, annulated bodies and reduced number of legs (four legs in adults, compared to eight in most mites). The species causes distinctive leaf rolling symptoms on pecan foliage. As with other eriophyid mites, A. caryae has a short development period of approximately 7–10 days, allowing rapid population buildup under favorable conditions.
Acleris minuta
Yellow-headed Fireworm, Lesser Apple Leaf-folder
Acleris minuta is a small tortricid moth native to eastern North America, commonly known as the yellow-headed fireworm or lesser apple leaf-folder. The species is recognized by its forewing length of 6.5–9.5 mm and its multivoltine life cycle with up to three generations annually. Adults are active primarily from June through August, with some individuals recorded in October. The larvae are polyphagous leaf-feeders on a range of woody and ericaceous plants, including economically significant hosts such as apple, pear, and cranberry.
Acrobasis tricolorella
destructive prune worm, tricolored acrobasis moth
Acrobasis tricolorella is a snout moth (Pyralidae: Phycitinae) described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1878. The species occurs in southern Canada and the northern United States. Adults are active from June to October. Larvae feed on buds and fruits of various Rosaceae and related woody plants, and overwinter in the larval stage.
Adoxophyes furcatana
Adoxophyes furcatana is a small tortricid moth native to eastern North America. Adults have forewings measuring 7.5–10.5 mm and are active during June and August. The species is notable for its larval association with Platanus (sycamore) species, where larvae construct leaf rolls for shelter and feeding.
Adoxophyes negundana
Shimmering Adoxophyes Moth, Shimmering Gold Adoxophyes Moth
A small tortricid moth with forewings 7.5–9.5 mm in length. Adults are active from June to early September. The species is specialized on boxelder (Acer negundo), with larvae that roll leaves to feed and develop.
Agonopterix robiniella
Four-dotted Agonopterix Moth, Locust Leaf Roller
Agonopterix robiniella is a small moth in the family Depressariidae, commonly known as the four-dotted agonopterix moth or locust leaf roller. It is native to eastern North America and is tightly associated with black locust trees. The species is named for the characteristic pattern of four dark spots on its forewings. Larvae are leaf rollers that feed exclusively on Robinia pseudoacacia.
Amorbia emigratella
Mexican leaf-roller
Amorbia emigratella, commonly known as the Mexican leaf-roller, is a tortricid moth native to the southern United States, Mexico, and Central America. It was first described from Hawaii in 1910 by August Busck, where it has become established on all major islands. The species exhibits sexual dimorphism in forewing length and undergoes multiple generations annually. Larvae are polyphagous, feeding on a broad range of cultivated and wild plants.
Anacampsis populella
poplar sober
A small gelechiid moth native to Europe, accidentally introduced to North America. Adults are active from May to September with variable whitish forewings marked with black or dark grey. Larvae are leaf-rollers that feed on poplars and willows, constructing silk-bound leaf tubes in which they develop and pupate. The species is univoltine, with eggs overwintering.
Archips semiferanus
Oak Leafroller Moth, Oak Leaf Roller, Oak Leafroller
Archips semiferanus is a tortricid moth whose larvae are major defoliators of oak trees in eastern North America. The species produces one generation annually, with eggs laid in July, overwintering, and hatching the following spring. Larvae roll oak leaves with silk to form shelters, feeding inside until pupation in June. Outbreaks can cause extensive tree mortality, with over one million acres defoliated in Pennsylvania during the late 1960s and early 1970s. The female sex pheromone has been studied extensively and contains (Z)-11-tetradecenyl acetate as a primary component.
Cacoecimorpha pronubana
Carnation Tortrix, Carnation Leaf-roller
Cacoecimorpha pronubana is a highly polyphagous tortricid moth of Mediterranean origin, now widespread across Europe, North Africa, and introduced to North America and South Africa. The sole species in its genus, it is a significant pest of ornamental plants and horticultural crops. Larvae feed on foliage, flowers, and fruits, rolling leaves with silken webbing to create concealed feeding shelters. The species exhibits complex transgenerational responses to host plant changes, with parental diet affecting offspring development and reproduction.
Caloptilia
leaf cone moths, leaf blotch miner moths
Caloptilia is a genus of small moths in the family Gracillariidae, commonly known as leaf cone moths or leaf blotch miner moths. Larvae are leaf miners that typically feed internally on leaf tissue during early instars, then later instars roll or fold leaves into protective cones or shelters where they complete development and pupate. The genus contains numerous species, many of which are host-specific to particular tree or shrub genera. Several species have become economically significant as pests of ornamental and horticultural plants, including Caloptilia fraxinella on ash trees and Caloptilia azaleella on azaleas.
Caloptilia azaleella
Azalea Leafminer Moth, azalea leaf miner
Caloptilia azaleella is a small moth in the family Gracillariidae, commonly known as the azalea leaf miner. Native to Japan, it has been introduced globally through the horticultural trade of azalea plants and is now established in Europe, North America, Australia, and New Zealand. The species is a specialist herbivore whose larvae mine and roll leaves of Rhododendron species. It is frequently encountered in gardens, greenhouses, and sheltered urban plantings.
Caloptilia burgessiella
Dogwood Conical Leafroller Moth
Caloptilia burgessiella is a small moth in the family Gracillariidae, commonly known as the Dogwood Conical Leafroller Moth. The larvae are leaf miners that feed on dogwoods (Cornus species) and blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum). The species occurs in northeastern North America and has been recorded as far west as California.
Caloptilia populetorum
clouded slender
Caloptilia populetorum is a small leaf-mining moth in the family Gracillariidae, commonly known as the clouded slender. Despite its scientific name suggesting an association with poplars, the larvae feed exclusively on birch leaves (Betula species). The species is found across most of Europe and extends into parts of Russia. Adults are active from late summer through spring, overwintering as adults.
Caloptilia sassafrasella
Sassafras Caloptilia Moth
Caloptilia sassafrasella is a small moth in the family Gracillariidae. The species is a specialist herbivore whose larvae mine leaves of sassafras trees (Sassafras spp.). Native to eastern North America, it has been documented from Canada south to Florida and west to Texas. Adults are nocturnal and attracted to light. The species was first described by Chambers in 1876.
Caloptilia serotinella
Cherry Leafroller Moth
A small moth in the family Gracillariidae known for its distinctive leaf-rolling larval behavior. The caterpillar constructs leaf rolls on cherry and related host plants by spinning silk strands between opposing leaf surfaces, generating collective force exceeding 0.1 N to draw leaves into tight cylinders. Adults are attracted to ultraviolet light and have been documented at moth-lighting events in North America.
Camptonotus carolinensis
Carolina leaf-roller, Carolina Leafroller Cricket
Camptonotus carolinensis, commonly known as the Carolina leaf-roller, is a species of raspy cricket in the family Gryllacrididae. It occurs in the eastern United States and has been recorded from states including Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Missouri, and Ontario, Canada. The species is notable as prey for the katydid wasp Sphex nudus, which has been observed carrying paralyzed individuals to its nest.
Choristoneura conflictana
large aspen tortrix
Choristoneura conflictana, the large aspen tortrix, is a tortricid moth native to North America. The species undergoes periodic population outbreaks that can severely defoliate trembling aspen stands in parts of Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Adults are active from May through August, with a wingspan of 25–35 mm. The species was first described by Francis Walker in 1863 and ranges across the continent from Alaska to the Atlantic coast.
Diaphania indica
cucumber moth, cotton caterpillar, leaf roller
Diaphania indica is a widespread moth species occurring primarily in tropical and subtropical regions of the Old World, native to southern Asia. It is a significant agricultural pest of cucurbitaceous crops, with larvae feeding on leaves, stems, and fruits of host plants. The species has been documented on multiple continents and is subject to biological control efforts using parasitoid wasps. Laboratory studies have established detailed demographic parameters and life cycle duration.
Ditula angustiorana
Red-barred Tortrix, Fruit-tree Tortrix, Vine Tortrix, Leaf roller
Ditula angustiorana, the red-barred tortrix, is a small tortricid moth with a wingspan of 12–18 mm, characterized by ferruginous ochreous forewings with distinctive deep ferruginous markings. The species is polyphagous, with larvae feeding on a wide range of trees and shrubs including apple, pear, cherry, grape, and various conifers. Unusually among moths, females exhibit calling behavior and pheromone production during daylight hours rather than at night. The species has a single primary brood with adults active from May to August, though occasional second broods occur in autumn.
Dysodia
Window-winged moths
Dysodia is a pantropical genus of moths in the family Thyrididae, described by James Brackenridge Clemens in 1860. The genus is found on all continents except Australia and contains approximately 30 species. Adults are nocturnal and attracted to lights. Larvae are leaf-rollers that use silk to tie leaves of host plants.
Dysodia
Window-winged Moths
Dysodia is a genus of window-winged moths in the family Thyrididae, characterized by translucent square or rectangular spots on their wings. These moths are larger and heavier-bodied than the related genus Thyris, and are strictly nocturnal. At least four species occur in the United States, with additional undescribed species present in southern Texas. The genus belongs to a predominantly tropical family with over 760 species worldwide.
Epinotia solandriana
Birch Leafroller Moth
Epinotia solandriana is a small tortricid moth with a wingspan of 16–21 mm, distributed across Europe, Asia (China, Korea, Japan, Russia), and North America. Adults fly from July to September and show considerable variation in forewing coloration and pattern. Larvae are specialized leaf rollers on birch, hazel, and willow, folding leaves to create shelters while feeding.
Exaeretia ciniflonella
Scotch flat-body
Exaeretia ciniflonella is a small moth in the family Depressariidae with a trans-Palearctic and western Nearctic distribution. Adults have a wingspan of 17–24 mm and are active from July through August, with individuals sometimes reappearing in early spring after overwintering. Larvae develop within rolled or folded leaves of birch, poplar, and willow.
Friseria
mesquite web worm (for F. cockerelli)
Friseria is a genus of small moths in the family Gelechiidae, established by Busck in 1939. The genus contains at least nine described species distributed in North America. One species, Friseria cockerelli, is known as the mesquite web worm and has been studied for its larval habit of constructing silken webs on host plants. Most species remain poorly documented beyond taxonomic descriptions.
Frumenta nundinella
Mottled Twirler
Frumenta nundinella is a gelechiid moth with two generations per year in temperate North America. It is an obligate specialist on Solanum carolinense (horsenettle), with larvae inducing characteristic leaf shelters in the first generation and feeding within fruits in the second generation. The species is notable for inducing parthenocarpic fruit development in its host, creating galls within which larvae complete development. Adults overwinter and emerge to oviposit on new shoot tips in late spring.
Gelechiidae
twirler moths, gelechiid moths
Gelechiidae is a large family of small moths, commonly known as twirler moths, that serves as the namesake family for the superfamily Gelechioidea. The family contains over 4,500 described species across more than 900 genera, with particularly high diversity in North America. Members are characterized by their small size, narrow fringed wings, and larvae that typically feed internally on host plant tissues. Many species are significant agricultural pests, while others have been employed for biological control of invasive plants.
Helcystogramma hystricella
Lanceolate Helcystogramma Moth, Lanceolate Moth
A small gelechiid moth with a wingspan of 13–15 mm, distributed across the eastern and central United States. The species name references its larval host plant Elymus hystrix (formerly Hystrix patula). Larvae are specialized grass feeders that roll leaves for shelter and overwintering.
Herpetogramma aquilonalis
Herpetogramma aquilonalis is a species of pearl moth in the family Crambidae. It occurs in boreal forests across Canada and the Appalachian Mountains of the eastern United States. The species is known for its leaf-rolling larval behavior on various host plants. It was described relatively recently in 2021 by Handfield and Handfield.
Marasmia
Marasmia is a genus of moths in the family Crambidae, subfamily Spilomelinae. It was established by Julius Lederer in 1863 and is currently treated as a synonym of Cnaphalocrocis in most modern taxonomic databases, though it remains in use in some literature. The genus includes species that are significant agricultural pests, particularly of rice crops. The best-known species, Marasmia ruralis (also known as Cnaphalocrocis medinalis or the rice leaf roller), causes substantial damage to global rice production by folding leaves for feeding and shelter.
Merhynchites bicolor bicolor
Merhynchites bicolor bicolor is a subspecies of leaf-rolling weevil in the family Attelabidae. Members of the genus Merhynchites are known for their distinctive elongated rostrum and association with oak foliage. The nominate subspecies designation indicates this is the typical form of the species. This taxon belongs to a group of insects commonly referred to as oak leaf-rolling weevils due to their larval habit of manipulating host leaves.
Pamphilius ochreipes
Viburnum Web-spinning Sawfly
Pamphilius ochreipes is a web-spinning sawfly in the family Pamphiliidae. Larvae feed within leaf rolls on cultivated Viburnum opulus, constructing silk webbing for protection. The species has a univoltine life cycle, overwintering as larvae in soil and emerging as adults in late spring. Adults have been collected across North America, though detailed biological studies are limited to southern Ontario populations.
Pandemis cerasana
barred fruit-tree tortrix
Pandemis cerasana is a tortricid moth native to northern Eurasia, introduced to North America where it was first recorded in Victoria, British Columbia in 1964. The species is a polyphagous leaf roller whose larvae feed on various deciduous trees and shrubs, with notable damage to fruit trees including cherry, apple, and pear. Adults fly from June to August in western Europe, with two generations per year.
Pandemis heparana
dark fruit-tree tortrix, apple brown tortrix
Pandemis heparana is a tortricid moth with a wingspan of 16–24 mm, recognized by its variable brown forewings with reticulate patterning and dark transverse bands. The species is bivoltine, with adults active from late May to mid-September in western Europe. Larvae develop within rolled leaves of various deciduous trees and shrubs, and are considered agricultural pests of apple and pear orchards.
Pococera euphemella
Mesquite Leaf Tier Moth
Pococera euphemella is a moth species in the family Pyralidae, subfamily Epipaschiinae. It is commonly known as the Mesquite Leaf Tier Moth. The species was described by Hulst in 1888 and is classified under the genus Pococera, which includes several leaf-rolling or leaf-tying caterpillar species that feed on woody plants. As a member of Epipaschiinae, it belongs to a group of pyralid moths whose larvae typically construct shelters by tying or rolling leaves.
Pyramidobela angelarum
buddleia budworm moth
Pyramidobela angelarum is a small moth in the family Ethmiidae, commonly known as the buddleia budworm moth. It is currently known only from coastal urban areas of California, where it is likely an introduced species. The moth is associated exclusively with Buddleia, an ornamental plant genus of tropical origin. Adults are active throughout much of the year, from late February to early December.
Salbia
Salbia is a genus of crambid moths (family Crambidae, subfamily Pyraustinae) established by Achille Guenée in 1854. The genus contains leaf-rolling species, including Salbia lotanalis, which has been studied as a potential biological control agent for the invasive tree Miconia calvescens. Larvae feed on Melastomataceae and construct leaf rolls for shelter.
Semioscopis inornata
dull flatbody moth, Poplar Micromoth
A small moth in the family Depressariidae, described by Walsingham in 1882. Adults are active in spring, with a single generation per year. Larvae are leaf-rollers that feed on poplar and willow species.
Strepsicrates smithiana
bayberry leaftier moth, Smith's strepsicrates moth
Strepsicrates smithiana is a small tortricid moth with a wingspan of 14–15 mm. It is native to southern North America, Central America, the Caribbean, and South America, and was introduced to Hawaii in 1955 as a biological control agent. The species is notable for its leaf-tying larval behavior and specialized feeding on Myricaceae and Myrtaceae host plants.
Teleiopsis baldiana
Teleiopsis baldiana is a small gelechiid moth described in 1920 by William Barnes and August Busck. It is restricted to California in western North America. The species is associated with poison oak (Toxicodendron diversilobum), on which its larvae feed and roll leaves.
Thyris maculata
Spotted Thyris, Spotted Thyris Moth
Thyris maculata, commonly known as the spotted thyris, is a window-winged moth in the family Thyrididae. It is recognized by the distinctive square or rectangular translucent spots in its wings that give the family its common name. The species exhibits a broad geographic range across North America and has been observed in both eastern and western regions. Adults are diurnal and visit flowers for nectar, while larvae are generalist feeders that roll leaves of host plants.