PEST PROFILES: MOTH AND BUTTERFLY CATERPILLARS

---

Larva Adult Damage Click on image to view larger.

Leafrollers Description: Young Canna leafroller larvae are initially clear white, but become semi-transparent pale green with dark orange heads marked with black as they mature. The adult is a large brown skipper with clear white spots of the front and hind wings. The lesser Canna leaf roller also feed on Canna species. Larvae of the celery leaftier or greenhouse leaftier, are slender, pale green with black dark heads when small. There are several instars the last being almost 3/4 inch long, pale yellow with a broad white stripe within which a dark green band runs along their backs. Damage: Feed on leaves of Canna lilies. They feed on the underside of leaves, and will web leaves together with silk strands. Infested leaves accumulate black granular larva excrement (frass). Life cycle: Adults oviposit hemispherical whitish eggs on host plant leaves. Larvae develop through several instars over a period of many weeks before pupating in rolled leaves in a pale green chrysalis with a projection on the head. There are 3 or more generations annually.