three-lined leafroller moth

(Pandemis limitata)

three-lined leafroller moth
Photo by Alfredo Colon
  Hodges #

3594

 
 
Conservation Status
  IUCN Red List

not listed

     
  NatureServe

NNR - Unranked

SNR - Unranked

     
  Minnesota

not listed

     
           
 
Description
 
 

Three-lined leafroller moth is a small archip leafroller moth. It occurs in the eastern United States, the Pacific Northwest, and southern Canada. It is common in the United States east of the Mississippi River, mostly absent in the west. It is uncommon in Minnesota, where it is at the western extent of its southern range. Larvae feed on a wide variety of deciduous woody plants, including alder, apple, ash, basswood, cherry, poplar, birch, elm, maple, oak, and willow. Adults are active from June through August.

The adult is to ½ (10 to 12 mm) long and has a wingspan of to 1 (16 to 26 mm). The forewings are pale tan or light brown with a darker brown basal area and median band. There is also a dark, rounded patch on the outer margin near the wing tip, though this is indistinct on some individuals. The basal, median, and upper postmedial lines are pale and distinct. The hindwing is white and is often shaded gray on the lower half.

The larva (caterpillar) is entirely green with no markings. It is covered with many long, hair-like outgrowths (setae). Each seta emerges from a moderately large, hardened plate (pinacula).

 
     
 

Size

 
 

Total length: to ½ (10 to 12 mm)

Wingspan: to 1 (16 to 26 mm)

 
     
 

Similar Species

 
     
     
 
Habitat
 
 

Deciduous woody plants

 
     
 
Biology
 
 

Season

 
 

One generation per year: June through August

 
     
 

Behavior

 
 

 

 
     
 

Life Cycle

 
 

 

 
     
 

Larva Hosts

 
 

A wide variety of deciduous woody plants, including alder, apple, ash, basswood, cherry, poplar, birch, elm, maple, oak, and willow.

 
     
 

Adult Food

 
 

 

 
     
 
Distribution
 
 

Distribution Map

 

Sources

21, 24, 29, 30, 72, 75, 82.

 
  10/2/2020      
         
 

Occurrence

 
 

Uncommon in Minnesota

 
         
 
Taxonomy
 
 

Order

Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths)  
 

Superfamily

Tortricoidea (tortricid moths)  
 

Family

Tortricidae (leafroller moths)  
 

Subfamily

Tortricinae  
 

Tribe

Archipini (archips leafrollers)  
 

Genus

Pandemis  
       
 

Synonyms

 
 

Pandemis limitana

Tortrix limitata

 
       
 

Common Names

 
 

three-lined leafroller (caterpillar)

three-lined leafroller moth (adult)

 
       

 

 

 

 

 

 

Glossary

Seta

A stiff, hair-like process on the outer surface of an organism. In Lepidoptera: A usually rigid bristle- or hair-like outgrowth used to sense touch. In mosses: The stalk supporting a spore-bearing capsule and supplying it with nutrients. Plural: setae. Adjective: setose.

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
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Alfredo Colon

 
    three-lined leafroller moth      
           
 
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  Alfredo Colon
Summer 2018

Location: Woodbury, MN

three-lined leafroller moth  
           
 
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Created: 10/3/2020

Last Updated:

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