Webbing of foliage by leafroller caterpillars

Hatching leafroller caterpillars settle mainly on the lower surfaces of leaves where they feed near the main veins or in shoot tips. Some settle at the calyx or stem end of fruit and may cause stings on the surface. Leaf feeding and shoot damage often include leaf folding and rolling. The fruit surface is eaten and some caterpillars bore into the fruit, particularly through the calyx. Faecal pellets (frass) are often found with damage. Leafroller damage is characterised by silken webbing on both fruits and foliage, and even bud damage in winter/spring. Shoot distortion is caused by feeding and the tieing of the young leaves and growing point with silk. Spider webbing is finer and less dense than the webbing made by leafroller caterpillars. Dead flies and other prey may be present in the spider webs whereas leafroller webbing is clean and often formed into a tube around the caterpillar.
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