Apple and Thorn Skeletonizer – Choreutis pariana

Apple and Thorn Skeletonizer   Scientific Name: Choreutis pariana Common Name:  Apple and thorn skeletonizer, apple leaf skeletonizer Appearance: Apple and thorn skeletonizer is a small, brown moth almost 6-inches in size. The leaves are brown with a tinge of grey and sometimes wavy, black lines. It has a yellowish larva with bumps on its body. Host Plants or Food: Apple and thorn skeletonizer feeds on apple, hawthorn, birch, willow, and mountain ash leaves, thus giving it its name. Territory: Throughout North America, Europe, Asia, and Western USA Mode of Damage:  It is a leaf chewer and damages the plant by feeding on its foliage. The larvae chew on the leaves’ lower surface, resulting in a skeleton-like appearance. Habits and Life History: Apple and thorn skeletonizer is usually found in areas with abundant agricultural fields. They lay eggs during the Spring, giving rise to caterpillar-like larvae. The larvae start feeding on the underside of the leaves beneath a silk web and slowly move their way upwards, leaving behind the veins. It sews the upper and lower surfaces of the leaves together and stays in it until it transforms into an adult. They may produce up to 4 generations per season.