Omnivorous leafroller

Description

Omnivorous leafroller is a small archip leafroller moth. It occurs in northern United States and southern Canada east of the Great Plains. It is common in Minnesota. Adults are active in June and July. Larvae are generalist feeders, and will feed on the leaves of almost any available non-coniferous host. They have been recorded feeding on 18 families of deciduous trees, shrubs, and forbs.

Adults are 9⁄16″ (14 mm) in length and have a wingspan of 11⁄16″ to 1 1⁄16″ (18 to 27 mm). Females are larger than males.

The forewings are light to dark brownish-tan or purplish-brown with brown or dark brown veins and lines. From the base to the wingtip, these is an antemedial (AM) line, two median lines, a postmedial (PM) line, and a subterminal (ST) line. The AM line forms a jagged W across both wings. There are also numerous short lines stretching between one or more veins. Some individuals have dark shading in the basal area, between the two median lines, and in the subterminal area. The leading (costal) margin is usually broadly rounded, sometimes angled, on the upper half, and concave on the lower half, giving the moth a distinctive bell-shaped appearance when perched. On the female the lower margin is deeply concave, on the male it is shallowly concave. There is no fold on the upper costal margin on either sex. The hindwing is white to pale tan and is tinted gray on the inner half.

The antennae are slender and thread-like.

The caterpillar is pale bluish-green and ¾″ to 1 3⁄16″ (20 to 30 mm) long. The head and the hardened plate on the thorax (prothoracic shield) are yellowish-brown. There is a pair of small black spots on both sides of the shield. The legs on the thorax are pale and unmarked.

Size

Total length: 9⁄16″ (14 mm)

Wingspan: 11⁄16″ to 1 1⁄16″ (18 to 27 mm)

Similar Species

Habitat

Ecology

Season

One generation per year: June and July

Behavior

Adults rest with their wings held flat over their body. They are active at night and will come to lights.

Larvae roll the edge of a leaf, secure it with a silken web, and feed inside the web.

Life Cycle

Third stage (instar) caterpillars overwinter on a host tree or in leaves on the ground. They resume eating, complete their development, and pupate the following spring. Adults emerge in June and July.

Larva Food/Hosts

Leaves of a wide range on forbs, shrubs, and deciduous trees.

Adult Food