Leafworm caterpillar: 13 types of pest and ways to defeat it
Every summer resident or gardener at least once came across leaves rolled into a tube on fruit trees or shrubs, inside which small caterpillars hide. The appearance of such leaves indicates that one of the most dangerous pests, the leafworm, has appeared on the site.
Content
Leaf rollers: photo of a butterfly and a caterpillar
Name: Screwdrivers
Latin:Tortricidae or OlethreutidaeClass: Insects - insecta
Squad: Lepidoptera - Lepidoptera Family: Leaf rollers - Tortricidae
 | Habitats: | ubiquitous |
 | Features: | caterpillars feed on almost all parts of plants |
 | Benefit or harm: | pests of fruit trees and some conifers |
Description of the insect
Growing leaflet.
Leafworms are a family of small butterflies. The wingspan of the insect does not exceed 2,5 cm. The body length of the moth is on average about 2 cm, and its entire surface is covered with many hairs.
Color wings can be varied depending on the subspecies and have both olive and gray-brown hues. On top of the main color on the wings, there may be bright spots and stripes of various colors. The color of the front pair of wings always has a darker shade than the hind pair.
Form butterfly wings are predominantly triangular or trapezoidal. When folding, the wings of leafworms are not arranged vertically, like most butterflies, but horizontally.
By way of life, the leafworm belongs to nocturnal insects. During the daytime, the moth finds shelter and stays there until dark.
Butterfly development cycle
Like the rest of the Lepidoptera order, the leafworm goes through several stages on the way to full maturity.
The main types of leaflets
The family of these moths has more than 10 thousand different species that can be found in almost every corner of the world. On the territory of Russia, 13 of the most common species pose a serious threat to plants.
A distinctive feature of butterflies of this species is the yellowish-white color on the front wings. They damage crops such as peach, apple, pear, plum, cherry, apricot, cherry and raspberry.
On the front wings of the butterfly there are characteristic light stripes, as well as specks of yellow and blue. The vine leafworm most commonly infects grapes, but can damage apples, pears, plums, and peaches.
The wings of the moth are painted dark gray with a brown tint and have a characteristic pattern of thin, whitish stripes. Peach, quince, pear, plum, apricot, medlar, cotoneaster and apple tree become victims of the eastern leafworm.
The color of the front wings of the insect is gray-brown or dark brown, depending on the sex. On the surface of the wings there is a yellow or reddish coating. In addition to fruit trees in gardens, this type of leafworm harms bird cherry, mountain ash, hawthorn, cotoneaster, hazel and other deciduous trees.
Butterfly wings are painted gray-brown without a pronounced pattern. The pest causes serious damage to the crop, damaging the fruits of peach, plum, pear, apple and apricot.
The main color of the wings of the moth is dark gray. On top of it, a pronounced pattern is applied in the form of transverse wavy stripes, of a light shade. Insect larvae damage the fruits of peach, pear and apple trees.
The color of the wings of the moth is light green or yellow-green. Caterpillars eat the foliage of birch, maple, oak, hornbeam, beech, as well as apple, pear, peach and apricot.
The front wings of the butterfly are brownish in color, with a purple tint. The insect harms plums, apricots, cherry plums, peaches, apple trees, pears, cherries, wild roses and hawthorns.
A distinctive feature of the moth is the light, bluish-gray color of the outer corner of the front wings. Fruit leafworm larvae cause damage to plum, apricot, apple, pear, cherry plum, mountain ash, cherry and hawthorn.
The color of the wings of a moth is distinguished by a rich yellow or golden color, with a slight greenish tint. Caterpillars of this species cause the main harm to grapes, but they also eat the foliage of plums, pears, cherries, blackberries, strawberries and many other plants.
The front pair of wings of this species is colored yellow-brown or orange-yellow. Caterpillars damage the leaves of currants, raspberries, apple trees, peaches and other crops.
The color of the wings is light brown or ocher yellow, with a reddish-brown pattern. The insect harms apple trees, pears, raspberries, currants, cherries, plums and roses.
The color of the front wings in males and females is significantly different. The wings of the males are painted gray-brown without a pattern, and the wings of the female are light gray, translucent, decorated with a number of dark brown spots. The diet of the larvae of this leafworm is made up of apple trees, pears, gooseberries, currants and raspberries.
What harm do leaflets cause
The main damage in gardens and orchards is caused by leafworm larvae. They eat various parts of fruit trees and berry bushes, thus leading to the unsuitability of the crop and the weakening of the plant's immunity. In the process of feeding, caterpillars are able to destroy:
- leaves;
- fruit;
- kidney;
- inflorescences.
Leaflets - the main reason for the appearance cobwebs on an apple tree.
Leafworm control methods
The main methods of dealing with leafworms, as in the case of other harmful butterflies, are divided into several types: mechanical, biological, chemical and folk.
Mechanical methods
Among the mechanical methods of dealing with leafworms are the following measures:
- collecting caterpillars from bushes and trees manually;
Trapping belt.
- shaking insects from branches;
- installation of hunting belts and special traps on trees.
Biological methods
Biological methods of dealing with leafworm caterpillars are to attract natural enemies of the insect to the site. These include:
- lace larvae;
- killer beetles;
- various birds.
Chemicals
Destruction of pests with the help of chemicals is the most effective way. Insecticide treatment should be carried out not only on an infected plant, but also on the territory of the entire garden or summer cottage. This is due to the ability of caterpillars and leafworm pupae to move long distances.
Among the range of chemicals, in the fight against leafworm, they have proven themselves in the best way:
- Alatar;
- Fufanon;
- Karbofos;
- Dursban;
- Atom;
- Landing.
Traditional recipes
For those who do not want to use chemicals on their site, there are several effective folk methods for dealing with leafworms.
| Infusion of wormwood | Suitable for both fresh and dry herbs. When using fresh wormwood, you will need about ½ bucket of finely chopped herbs. In the case of dried wormwood, 700-800 g must be used. First, wormwood is poured into 10 liters of water and allowed to infuse for 48 hours. The resulting tincture should be boiled for 30 minutes over low heat. After cooling, strain and add water in such a volume to get 10 liters of the finished broth. Before use, the product is once again diluted with water in a ratio of 1: 1. |
| Tobacco tincture | For cooking, you need shag or tobacco dust in the amount of 0,5 kg. Tobacco is poured with a bucket of hot water and infused for about 48 hours. When the tincture is ready, it is necessary to strain it with gauze and squeeze the cake well. Another bucket of water and 100 g of grated or liquid soap are added to the tobacco tincture. |
| Potato tincture | For tincture, you need 4 kg of green tops or 2 kg of dry. If the tops are fresh, then they should be finely chopped before use. Prepared tops must be filled with a bucket of warm water and left for 3-4 hours. The resulting tincture must be filtered and add 40 g of soap. |
Preventive measures
Proper agricultural practices and regular preventive measures are very important so that the plants in the garden do not become a victim of leafworms. The following actions will help to maintain the health and strong immunity of fruit trees and berry bushes:
- timely watering, weeding, pruning and feeding plants;
- regular loosening of the soil near the trunk circle;
- daily cleaning of fallen leaves and fruits;
- annual cleaning and whitewashing of the bark on the trunk and skeletal branches;
- preventive treatments with copper sulphate or Bordeaux liquid.
Conclusion
The leafworm is a very dangerous moth that can damage the fruits and health of the plant. Getting rid of a large number of insects can be quite difficult, so you should regularly carry out prevention and start pest control in a timely manner.
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