Leaf Crumpler – Acrobasis indigenella

Leaf Crumpler– Acrobasis indigenella Common Name: Leaf Crumpler Latin Name: Acrobasis indigenella Appearance: The adult Leaf Crumpler is a small moth with a 10-12 mm wingspan. The forewings are grayish-brown with darker wavy lines and a white spot at the tip. The hindwings are light gray. The larvae are tiny and greenish-yellow, with blackheads and prolegs.

• Egg:The eggs are small and oval-shaped, about 0.5 mm in diameter, and pale yellow.
• Pupae:The pupae are light brown and about 5-6 mm long.
• Larva:The larvae are tiny and greenish-yellow, with blackheads and prolegs. They are about 7-10 mm in length when fully grown.
• Adults:The adult Leaf Crumpler is a small moth with a 10-12 mm wingspan. The forewings are grayish-brown with darker wavy lines and a white spot at the tip. The hindwings are light gray.

Host plants: The Leaf Crumpler primarily feeds on oaks (Quercus spp.), but it has also been found on other trees such as sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua), chestnut (Castanea spp.), and hickory (Carya spp.). Territory: The Leaf Crumpler is found throughout the eastern United States. Damages caused by Leaf Crumpler: The larvae of the Leaf Crumpler create shelters by rolling up leaves with silk threads, and they feed inside the rolled-up leaves. This can cause defoliation and weaken the host plant. Life history and Habits: The Leaf Crumpler overwinters as a larva inside a leaf shelter. In the spring, the larvae pupate and emerge as adults in May or June. The adult moths mate and lay eggs on the underside of oak leaves. The larvae hatch and feed, rolling up leaves to create their shelters. The larvae go through several instars before pupating inside their covers in the fall.