Apple Pandemis – Pandemis pyrusana

Apple Pandemis   Scientific Name: Pandemis pyrusana Common Name: Apple pandemis, Pandemis leafroller moth Appearance: Apple Pandemis is a caterpillar-like insect with a thin, long green body. They give rise to green larvae with yellow or golden-colored heads. The forewings may be brown, while the hind wings are always white. Male Pandemis can grow up to 12.5mm in length while females grow up to 14mm. Host Plants or Food: The larvae of Apple pandemis feed off on foliage as well as flowers and fruits. This depends on whether the larvae grow during the winter or the summer. Territory: Throughout North America (British Columbia, Idaho, Utah, Colorado, and California) Mode of Damage: While Apple pandemis love chewing on leaves, the larvae may be leaf miners or flower and fruit feeders. This results in fruit dropping and damage to leaf tissue, leading to plant weakness. Habits and Life History: Apple pandemis are found in deciduous forests with thick shrubs and trees. Their females lay eggs on leaves or fruits, which gives rise to larvae of the first generation. The larvae form a protective shelter from a folded leaf from the host plant and feed on the foliage to turn into pupae. Due to the ability of larvae to roll leaves into a protective shell, they are also called leafroller moths. They may produce one or two generations yearly, with the second generation overwintering under the bark.