Apple: Leafrollers

Biology

Characteristic signs of leafroller feeding include leaves that are rolled and tied in place with webbing, often with frass in the webbing. Damaged leaves are often near shoot tips and may be skeletonized or chewed. Leafrolling caterpillars on apple are usually green with light to dark brown or black heads. The caterpillars may be up to 1″ in length at maturity. The adult moth of the obliquebanded leafroller, a common pest on apple, is an orange-brown, bell-shaped moth about 1/2″ long. The adult of the pandemis leafroller is a buff-colored moth with tan bands on the wings. Fruittree leafrollers may also be found on apple.

Management Options

Use Integrated Pest Management (IPM) for successful plant problem management.

Non-chemical Management

Select non-chemical management options as your first choice!

• Hand-pick and destroy individual caterpillars when practical.
• Pinch to kill caterpillars inside rolled leaves.
• Encourage natural enemies of caterpillars including birds, parasitic wasps and flies, and predacious beetles. Avoid use of broad-spectrum insecticides which kill beneficial insects.

Chemical Management

IMPORTANT: Visit Home and Garden Fact Sheets for more information on using pesticides.

• Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) will control leafrollers only if they are actively feeding.
• Use a spreader-sticker with liquid Bt formulations.
• Oil applied as a delayed dormant spray will kill overwintering eggs.
• Apply spinosad once around the time of petal fall.
• Homeowners should not make foliar applications to trees over 10 ft tall.
• Consult a commercial pesticide applicator for treatment of trees and shrubs over 10 ft. tall.

Approved Pesticides

Listed below are examples of pesticides that are legal in Washington. Always read and follow all label directions.

• All Seasons Horticultural and Dormant Spray Oil Concentrate [Organic]
  Active ingredient: mineral oil/pet distillate [EPA registration number: 4-80]
• Bonide Captain Jack's Deadbug Brew R-T-U [Organic]
  Active ingredient: spinosad (spinosyn A+D) [EPA registration number: 4-472]
• Bonide Thuricide BT Concentrate
  Active ingredient: Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki [EPA registration number: 4-226]
• Monterey Garden Insect Spray [Organic]
  Active ingredient: spinosad (spinosyn A+D) [EPA registration number: 62719-314-54705]
• R-T-U Year-Round Spray Oil
  Active ingredient: oil/pet distillate [EPA registration number: 6218-78]
• Safer Brand BioNEEM Multi-Purpose Insecticide and Repellent Concentrate [Organic]
  Active ingredient: azadirachtin [EPA registration number: 70051-6-42697]
• This list may not include all products registered for this use.

Additional Images