Leaf Roller

Garden Problems , Garden Products

Leaf roller caterpillars roll up leaves and stick them together for shelter, they then feed on the inner surface of the leaves then eat through the leaves as they mature.

Identify the problem
Leaf roller caterpillars curl up the leaves of host plants and stick them together with silk webbing to make a shelter where they can feed on the leaves in safety. The young caterpillars feed on the inner surfaces of the leaves, but once the caterpillar approaches maturity it will eat through the leaf. This damage can be serious for host plants.
Host plants include many fruits and ornamentals but they will also feed on a variety of common weeds and these can be a source of infestation.
How to solve the problem
To get rid of leaf roller caterpillars follow these steps:
- Leaf roller caterpillars are often difficult to control because they are usually well protected within their leafy shelter so you need to be thorough and persistent in your control programme.
- Leaf rollers often establish on weeds so regularly weeding, cleaning and mowing will help to prevent infestations from these sources.
- For control on ornamental plants use PLANThealth Spectrum.
- For an organic alternative to kill leaf roller, use Organic Insect Control.
Did you know?
There are three common pest species of leaf roller in New Zealand. The brown headed leafroller, the light brown apple moth and the green headed leaf roller. They are major horticultural pests.
Leafrollers refers to the caterpillars of several Lepidopteran species.