INSECT ID · CHEWING PEST
Leaf rollers
Also called Leaf roller, leafroller, leaf roller damage, canna leaf roller
Caterpillars that roll or fold a leaf and tie it shut with silk, then feed inside. Rolled, tattered leaves are the first sign.
How to spot it
- Leaves rolled into tubes or folded over and held shut with silk
- Tattered or twisted leaves, often at the growing tips
- A caterpillar hiding and eating inside the roll
- Chewed leaf tissue
- Seen on canna, pyracantha, redbud, and other soft-leaved plants
Why it shows up
The caterpillar uses silk to tie a leaf into a hiding spot and feeds inside it. Some kinds can have three or more generations in a season. That keeps new rolled leaves showing up from spring through late fall.
How we treat it
We will identify the caterpillar on a visit and recommend the right fix. Cleaning up old leaf debris after frost helps. Young caterpillars are the easiest to deal with, so catching it early matters. If they keep coming back, we will talk through other options with you.
What you can do
- Unroll a leaf gently and look for the caterpillar inside.
- Clean up old leaf debris from the bed after frost.
- Call early. Young caterpillars are the easiest to handle.
WANT IT HANDLED?
Let a licensed applicator take it from here.
Tell us about your lawn. We’ll get back to you with a free quote.
Prefer to talk? 817-382-1722Licensed applicator, Texas Department of Agriculture · License #0984138