What are the Larvae inside of pocket on leaf tips of apple trees - Ask Extension
I'm trying to identify the larvae I found while removing a few leaves I thought
were damaged by a fungal disease I noticed some of the the damaged p...
Knowledgebase
What are the Larvae inside of pocket on leaf tips of apple trees #868701
Asked May 16, 2024, 12:10 PM EDT
I'm trying to identify the larvae I found while removing a few leaves I thought
were damaged by a fungal disease I noticed some of the the damaged portions had small pockets containing larvae it looked as though they had encapsulated themselves inside a dry pocket on the leaf there was no obvious entry point and the damage was contained to directly around the larvae like the egg was laid earlier while the leaves were first opening. The pocket was partially separated from the live portion of leaves as if the leaf grew while the dry pocket didn't grow along with the leaf.
Genesee County Michigan
Expert Response
These are leafroller larvae and are a pest. The larvae create a case in a rolled leaf and may feed on the buds. Later in the season, leafrollers can feed on the developing fruits. If you just notice a few, remove those leaves.
We have a few species of leaf roller: Pale apple and oblique banded. I believe you have the pale apple species, but you'll need to look at the head (the picture only shows the rear end) to confirm.
We have a few species of leaf roller: Pale apple and oblique banded. I believe you have the pale apple species, but you'll need to look at the head (the picture only shows the rear end) to confirm.
Thank you. I do believe they are pale apple leaf rollers. I've always thought leaf rollers would fold a leaf over to make a shelter around themselves yet The larvae I discovered were burrowed into the leaf and had created a blister like pocket without having folded the leaf. It's similar to the way a leaf miner would eat the inside of a leaf leaving the epidermis intact. I would not have guessed leaf rollers because of this difference. Is this difference in behavior just due to the stage of development at which I happened to notice them.
