Fruittree leafroller

In spring when fruit buds open through early summer, look for tightly rolled leaves webbed together on Prunus species, apple, and serviceberry. The rolled leaves harbor greenish caterpillars with black heads that feed on expanding foliage and young fruit. Unroll damaged leaves to find the small (0.75 inch) larvae; they will wiggle rapidly backward when disturbed. Shallow surface damage on fruit or petal-fall-stage fruit scarring signals early generation feeding in Western Washington orchards.

Scout for leaf rolling during bud break and remove affected shoots by hand if populations are light. Allow natural parasitoids to suppress populations. For heavier infestations, apply spinosad at the larval stage before fruit damage. Time applications when 75 percent of flower buds have separated. In organic systems, kaolin spray during egg hatch can reduce successful colonization.