Leafroller Control: How to Get Rid of Leafrollers

This page is a general DIY guide for leafroller control. Using the products and methods suggested, you will get control of the leafroller. Follow this DIY guide and use the recommended products and steps to control leafroller infestations completely.

Leafrollers are the caterpillar stages of various species of moths belonging to the family Tortricidae. Depending on the species, this common pest feeds on the young fruit, nuts, and leaves of trees, vegetables, and other garden or orchard plants in northeastern to southern lawns. In southern regions, the most encountered species is the oak leaf roller, bean leaf roller, or omnivorous leafroller, whereas, in northern lawns, it is the oblique banded leafroller. A common species of leafroller found throughout the United States is the fruit tree leafroller moth.

As the name suggests, the leafroller protects itself during the pupate stage by rolling leaves from a hanging leaf around it, then emerging as a moth in the spring. While this action may look harmless, it is an alarm for homeowners to begin insecticide applications. With leaves rolled up, this leads to loss of nutrients, discoloration, wilting, and death of desirable foliage.

There are natural predators such as birds, spiders, or ants to minimize leaf roller populations. However, natural predators rarely inhibit one terrain long enough to control the pest fully. For this reason, refer to the following article and follow the recommended steps and products to control leafroller populations fully.

Identification

Before you proceed with a treatment program, you must confirm if the pest infestation is a leafroller. Misidentification can lead you to use the wrong insecticide products, wasting your time and finances. Since there are numerous leafroller species, the following characteristics are general traits that most pests possess:

• Most leafroller larvae will range from dark to light green, cream, brown, or yellow in coloration.
• Bodies are slender cylindrical shaped with black or brown head capsules.
• The leafroller has pairs of leglike appendages along the abdomen that help it move backward and vigorously to escape danger.
• In the larvae stage, they reach a length of 2/3 to 3/4 inches.

Use the image and description above to determine whether the pest infesting your property is a species of leafrollers. If unsure, you may contact us with a photo of the pest or visit one of our store locations with a sample of the pest in a sealed plastic bag.

Inspection

Once you have confirmed the leafroller's infestation, you can proceed with the inspection. During this phase, you will determine the areas of infestation and observe the conditions allowing the leafroller to survive. By learning this information, you will know where to apply your insecticide products, lessening the amount of product used and time.

Where to Inspect

Leafrollers in the moth stage will be difficult to identify as most species are nocturnal. Look around the leaves, plant buds, nuts, and fruits of trees, vegetables, and shrubs for larvae activity. Typically, the most common areas to find leafrollers are gardens, orchards, and trees across your property.

What to Look For

The feeding activity of leafroller larvae gives the leaves a ragged or curled appearance. This pest curls leaves into a roll and sometimes wraps them with silk. These rolled-up leaves can be found at the highest point of the branch stem to evade predators. Each stage of leafrollers provides small irregular holes across the foliage, leaves, and fruit.

In the spring months, you will either see the larvae or eggs during the day. Eggs of leafrollers are laid in large overlapping clusters on leaves or branches with a dark gray or brown-colored liquid coating across the eggs that fades over time to bleach-white.

Treatment

Before handling or applying any insecticide products, you will need to wear the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).

Due to the variations in leafroller species' activities, it is recommended that a long-lasting residual insecticide be applied in the first half of spring and late summer.

We recommend using Supreme IT, a liquid insecticide that eliminates over 70 types of pests, including leafrollers. Once applied, this product will last up to 90 days to protect your lawn, foliage plants, non-bearing fruit and nut trees, shrubs, and ornamental trees from leafrollers.

Non-bearing fruit and nut trees will not produce a harvestable crop during the application season.

Step 1: Pruning

Remove decaying tree limbs, fruits, nuts, plant buds, and leaves with a pair of hedge trimmers or hand pruners before the plant reaches dormancy.

You may remove rolled leaves from the plant stems with your selected tool.

Step 2: Apply Supreme IT

Determine how much Supreme IT to use by measuring the square footage of the treatment area. To do this, measure the length and width of the treatment site in feet, then multiply (length X width = square footage).

To control leafrollers, apply 0.25 to 0.5 oz. of Supreme IT per gallon of water per 1,000 sq. ft.

Perform a spot treatment with a handheld pump sprayer.

To prepare your spray solution, pour half the amount of water into the spray tank, then add the measured amount of Supreme IT and fill the rest with the remaining half of the water. Close the tank lid and shake until a solution is evenly mixed. Spray the top and bottom of plant leaves until wet, but not to the point of run-off.

Wait until 24 hours have passed or until sprays have dried before allowing children, pets, and people to enter treated areas. Reapply this product when 90 days have passed from the first application.

Prevention

Once leafrollers have been eliminated from the treated areas, ensure these pests do not return. We recommend some preventative measures to keep leafrollers away from your property.

• Prune decaying leaves, fruits, branches, or rolled-up leaves hanging from stems as leafrollers feed and grow from the inside of rolled-up leaves.
• Rake fallen leaves and other plant debris to eliminate other possible food sources and habitats for leafrollers.
• Mow your lawn when it has reached a height of 3 inches to maintain its health and remove other possible food sources.
• Water your lawn and ornamental foliage with an inch of irrigation once weekly to push off leafroller eggs and maintain plant health.
• Continually apply Supreme IT every 90 days to eliminate and prevent leafroller activity.

Key Takeaways

What are Leafrollers?

• Leafrollers are caterpillars of various moth species that roll themselves up in plant leaves at the top of branches.

How to Get Rid of Leafrollers

• We recommend performing spot applications with Supreme IT and regular pruning to eliminate leafroller larvae and overwintering activities.

Preventing Leafroller Reinfestation

• To prevent leafroller infestations, apply a long-lasting residual insecticide like Supreme IT every 90 days and maintain regular lawn maintenance such as raking, mowing, and pruning.