Choristoneura rosaceana (Harris) (Tortricidae: Tortricinae: Archipini)
Common names: oblique banded leaf roller, rosaceous leaf roller
Synonyms: gossypiana (Lozotaenia), vicariana (Teras)
FWL: 7.5–11 mm (males); 11.5–14 mm (females)
Forewing pattern is variable, but the majority of individuals have three fasciae that are variably expressed from costa to dorsum. The costal margin, especially in females, is sinuate, giving resting individuals a classic "bell-shaped" appearance. The distal half of the hindwing is white in males and yellowish in females. Males have a small triangular forewing costal fold; however, some California populations have males that lack a costal fold.
Male genitalia are characterized by a distally swollen uncus; a well-developed gnathos; and relatively small, membranous valvae. Female genitalia are characterized by an extremely long ductus bursae with a cestum present and a long, thin, hooked signum in the corpus bursae.
The following account is summarized from MacKay (1962a)MacKay (1962a):
MacKay, M. R. 1962a. Larvae of the North American Tortricinae (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). Canadian Entomologist, Supplement 28: 1-182. and Chapman and Lienk (1971)Chapman and Lienk (1971):
Chapman, P. J., Lienk, S. E. 1971. Tortricid fauna of apple in New York (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae); including an account of apple's occurrence in the state, especially as a naturalized plant. Spec. Publ. Geneva, NY: New York State Agricultural Experiment Station. 122 pp..
Last instar larvae are green to yellowish green and 25–30 mm long. The head is black to light brown. The prothoracic shield varies from completely shaded (black or brown), to partially shaded, to having no shading (body color). The thoracic legs are dark brown to black.
Detailed figures of larval chaetotaxy are available in MacKay (1962a)MacKay (1962a):
MacKay, M. R. 1962a. Larvae of the North American Tortricinae (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). Canadian Entomologist, Supplement 28: 1-182..
Adults are similar to other species of Choristoneura, especially C. fractivittana and C. parallela, although these species are not nearly as common and males do not have a forewing costal fold. Many species of Pandemis have a similar wing pattern, but male Pandemis do not have a forewing costal fold.
Choristoneura rosaceana larvae are variable and can appear similar to larvae of many other tortricid species.
Choristoneura rosaceana is widely distributed throughout the continental United States and southern Canada. It is one of the most common tortricid species encountered in North America.
The following account is summarized from Craighead (1950)Craighead (1950):
Craighead, F. C. 1950. Insect enemies of eastern forests. United States Department of Agriculture, Miscellaneous Publications. 657: 1-679., Chapman et al. (1968)Chapman et al. (1968):
Chapman, P. J., Lienk, S. E., Dean, R. W. 1968. Bionomics of Choristoneura rosaceana . Annals of the Entomological Society of America. 61: 285-290., and Chapman and Lienk (1971)Chapman and Lienk (1971):
Chapman, P. J., Lienk, S. E. 1971. Tortricid fauna of apple in New York (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae); including an account of apple's occurrence in the state, especially as a naturalized plant. Spec. Publ. Geneva, NY: New York State Agricultural Experiment Station. 122 pp..
Choristoneura rosaceana completes two annual generations over the majority of its range; however, only one generation is completed in northern areas and at higher elevations. Adults are present in late June though July and again in late August through September.
Eggs are laid in flat masses on the upper side of leaves. Egg masses may contain 200–900 individual eggs and are covered by the female with a waxy substance. First instar larvae hatch in 5–12 days and crawl to a protected location on the underside of leaves, in the buds, or under the calyx of a fruit. Young larvae may also disperse to other hosts by ballooning in the wind on a silk thread. Later instar larvae construct tubular shelters by webbing leaves. Larvae typically complete six instars, and second or third instars may overwinter in the fall and complete development in late May to mid-June. Pupation occurs in the final feeding shelter and lasts approximately 10–12 days.
Larvae of C. rosaceana are highly polyphagous and feed on the leaves or fruits of a wide variety of plants. Preferred hosts appear to be woody plants and members of the family Rosaceae. The following is a partial host list.
Although this species is not currently considered a serious economic threat in North America, there have been populations of C. rosaceana reported as being resistant to insecticides (Carriere et al. 1996Carriere et al. 1996:
Carriere, Y., Deland, J. P., Roff, D. A. 1996. Obliquebanded leafroller (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) resistance to insecticides: among-orchard variation and cross-resistance. Journal of Economic Entomology. 89: 577-582.).
View full screen host table here
Authors: KA Austin, TM Gilligan, ME Epstein
Content last updated May 2025
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