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Apple-and-thorn skeletonizer

Choreutis pariana

92 host plants

Last updated

Data Coverage 1 of 6 dimensions
Host Plants
GDD Threshold
Peak Activity
Damage Severity
Monitoring
Regional Notes

In mid-summer you will spot groups of small yellowish-green larvae skeletonizing leaves on serviceberry, hawthorn, birch, and other plants, leaving vein structure intact. Damaged foliage looks lacy and translucent. These sawfly larvae feed in clusters on upper surfaces, with affected branches appearing scorched in sunny, warm conditions.

Hand-pick leaf clusters with visible larvae and destroy them; works well on smaller ornamental plants. Prune infested branch tips if damage is severe. Encourage parasitic wasps and predatory beetles by avoiding broad-spectrum insecticides. Apply insecticidal soap directly to larvae in early July before they pupate. Cosmetic pest; plants recover completely after defoliation.

Quick Reference

Order
Lepidoptera
Type
defoliator
Host Plants
92
What Damage Looks Like

The apple-and-thorn skeletonizer is a yellow-green caterpillar with small black spots. As a young caterpillar it feeds on the underside of leaves. More mature caterpillars move to the upper surface of the leaf, use silk to tie the edges of the leaf together near the base, and feed inside the tent-like structure. Leaves are skeletonized, with all tissues eaten away except veins and the lower leaf surface. Skeletonized leaves turn brown and drop. The feeding caterpillars produce large quantities of webbing and frass (excrement). The adult apple-and-thorn skeletonizer is a small dark-brown moth.

Cultural Controls

  • There are many natural enemies of this pest.
  • Avoid broad-spectrum sprays that would disrupt biological control.
  • Larvae and pupae are easily removed from rolled leaves.
  • Remove heavily infested twigs.
  • Management-

Host Plants (92)

Acer crataegifolium Hawthorn, Maple Asimina triloba Common Pawpaw Custard Apple Betula alleghaniensis Yellow Birch Betula davurica Asian Black Birch, Dahurian Birch Betula glandulosa Dwarf Birch Bog Birch, Scrub Birch Betula lenta Sweet Birch, Cherry Birch, Black Birch Betula maximowicziana Monarch Birch Betula nana Dwarf Birch, Bog Birch Betula nigra River Birch, Black Birch Betula occidentalis Water Birch, Western Birch, Red Birch, River Birch, Black Birch Betula papyrifera Paper Birch Betula pendula European White Birch Betula platyphylla Asian White Birch, Manchurian Birch Betula populifolia Gray Birch, Fire Birch Betula pubescens Downy Birch, Moor Birch Betula utilis Himalayan Birch, Bhojpatra, Indian Paper Birch Betula utilis subsp. albosinensis Chinese Paper Birch, Chinese Red Birch Betula utilis subsp. jacquemontii Whitebarked Himalayan Birch Crataegus ambigua Russian Hawthorn Crataegus autumn Crataegus autumn Crataegus columbiana Columbia Hawthorn Crataegus crus Crataegus crus Crataegus douglasii Black Hawthorn Crataegus germanica Medlar Crataegus laevigata English Hawthorn Crataegus lavallei Lavalle Hawthorn, Carrierei Hawthorn Crataegus monogyna Singleseed Hawthorn, Common Hawthorn, English Hawthorn Crataegus phaenopyrum Washington Hawthorn Crataegus punctata Dotted Hawthorn, Flat-topped Hawthorn Crataegus viridis Green Hawthorn,Southern Hawthorn Eucalyptus cinerea Silver Dollar Eucalyptus, Silver Dollar Gum Argyle Apple Malus 'Indian Magic' Indian Magic Crabapple Malus atrosanguinea Carmine Crabapple Malus brandywine Brandywine Crabapple Malus floribunda Japanese Flowering Crabapple Malus fusca Pacific Crabapple Malus hupehensis Tea Crabapple Malus prairifire Prairifire Crabapple Malus pumila Apple Malus robusta Cherry, Crabapple Malus sargentii Sargent Crabapple, Pigmy Crabapple Malus snowdrift Snowdrift Crabapple Malus transitoria Transitoria Crabapple Prunus americana Wild Plum American (Red) Plum August Plum, Goose Plum Prunus armeniaca Apricot Prunus avium Sweet Cherry Prunus besseyi Sand Cherry, Western Sand Cherry Prunus blireiana Blireiana Plum Prunus caroliniana Carolina Cherrylaurel American Cherrylaurel Prunus cascade Prunus cascade Prunus cerasifera Cherry, Plum Prunus cistena Purpleleaf Sandcherry Redleaf Sandcherry Cistena Sandcherry Cistena Plum Prunus dream Prunus dream Prunus emarginata Bitter Cherry, Wild Cherry, Quinine Cherry Prunus first Prunus first Prunus fruticosa Steppe Cherry, European Dwarf Ground Cherry, Mongolian Cherry Prunus glandulosa Dwarf Flowering Almond Prunus ilicifolia Hollyleaf Cherry, Holly-leaved Cherry Prunus laurocerasus Cherry, Laurel Prunus lusitanica Portugal Laurel Prunus maackii Amur Chokecherry Amur Cherry, Manchurian Cherry Prunus mume Japanese Apricotc Japanese Flowering Apricot Japanese Flowering Plum Prunus newport Newport Flowering Plum Prunus okame Okame Flowering Cherry Prunus padus European Birdcherry Common Birdcherry Prunus prostrata Rock Cherry, Mountain Cherry Prunus sargentii Sargent Cherry, Sargent's Cherry Prunus serotina Black Cherry, Rum Cherry Prunus serrula Birchbark Cherry, Paperbark Cherry, Tibetan Cherry Prunus serrulata Japanese Flowering Cherry Prunus snow Prunus snow Prunus subcordata Klamath Plum, Sierra Plum, Pacific Plum Prunus subhirtella Higan Cherry Prunus subhirtella var. autumnalis Autumn Flowering Higan Cherry Prunus tai Prunus tai Prunus virginiana Prunus virginiana Prunus virginiana var. demissa Western Chokecherry Prunus virginiana var. virginiana Common Chokecherry, Eastern Chokecherry Prunus yedoensis Yoshino Cherry, Somei-yoshino Cherry, Tokyo Cherry Pyrus communis Common Pear Pyrus fauriei Pyrus fauriei Pyrus salicifolia Pyrus salicifolia Rhaphiolepis indica Indian Hawthorn Rhaphiolepis umbellata Yeddo Rhaphiolepis Yeddo Hawthorn Sorbus alnifolia Korean Mountain Ash, Alder, Mountain Ash Sorbus aria Whitebeam Mountain Ash Sorbus aucuparia European Mountain Ash Sorbus koehneana Chinese Mountain Ash, White-fruited Chinese Mountain Ash Sorbus poteriifolia Mountain Ash Sorbus scopulina Greene Mountain Ash, Western Mountain Ash Sorbus sitchensis Sitka Mountain Ash, Pacific Mountain Ash, Western Mountain Ash Sorbus yunan Sorbus yunan (no English common name)