Several different leafrollers feed on the leaves and buds of woody ornamentals. Some species feed on only one plant. Others feed on many plants in the garden. Leafrollers are the larvae of small (up to ¾ inch) brownish moths. The insects spend the winter as eggs or larvae on the plant. In the spring the larvae feed on the young foliage, sometimes tunneling into and mining the leaf first. They roll one or more leaves around themselves, tying the leaves together with a silken webbing, then feed within the rolled leaves. This provides protection from weather, parasites, and chemical sprays. Some leafrollers mature in summer and have several generations each year. Other leafrollers have only one generation. In the fall, the larvae either mature into moths and lay the overwintering eggs, or they spend the winter inside the rolled leaf.
Spray with an insecticide containing acephate, carbaryl, diazinon, or Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) in the spring when leaf damage is first noticed. For the insecticides to be most effective, they should be applied before the larvae are protected inside the rolled leaves. Check the plant periodically in the spring for the first sign of an infestation.
