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Oak Ribbed Casemaker

Bucculatrix albertiella

50 host plants

Last updated

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

You will find small caterpillars creating distinctive ribbed cases from leaf fragments and silk on the undersides of oak leaves. Each larva constructs a portable case roughly one-quarter inch long with lengthwise ribbing. Cases are light tan to brown. Larvae graze on leaf tissue adjacent to their cases, creating window-like feeding patterns. Multiple generations occur throughout the growing season on host oaks.

Damage is generally light and cosmetic on most oaks. No control is needed for tree health. Hand-prune heavily infested leaves if appearance is objectionable. Encourage parasitic wasps and predatory insects by avoiding broad-spectrum applications. Leaf drop is natural and does not require intervention. Most oaks tolerate casemaker populations without visible impact on growth or vigor.

Quick Reference

Order
Lepidoptera
Type
defoliator
Host Plants
50

Cultural Controls

  • Natural enemies probably help keep populations in check.
  • Avoid use of broad-spectrum insecticides which kill beneficial insects.

Host Plants (50)

Quercus acutissima Sawtooth Oak Quercus agrifolia Coast Live Oak Quercus alba (Eastern) White Oak Quercus arizonica Arizona Oak, Arizona White Oak Quercus berberidifolia California Scrub Oak, Scrub Oak, Inland Scrub Oak Quercus bicolor Swamp White Oak Quercus bimundorum Two Worlds Oak, Bimundors Oak Quercus castaneifolia Chestnut-leaved Oak, Chestnutleaf Oak, Persian Oak Quercus cerris Turkey Oak Quercus chrysolepis Canyon Live Oak Quercus coccinea Scarlet Oak Quercus douglasii Blue Oak, California Blue Oak Quercus durata Leather Oak Quercus emoryi Emory Oak, Black Oak, Blackjack Oak Quercus engelmannii Engelmann Oak, Mesa Oak Quercus frainetto Hungarian Oak, Italian Oak Quercus gambelii Gambel Oak, Rocky Mountain White Oak Quercus garryana Oregon White Oak Quercus garryana var. breweri Brewer's Oak Quercus glandulifera Konara Oak Quercus glauca Japanese Blue Oak, Ring-cupped Oak Quercus hypoleucoides Silverleaf Oak, Whiteleaf Oak Quercus ilex Holly, Oak, Holm Oak Quercus ilicifolia Bear Oak Quercus imbricaria Shingle Oak Quercus kelloggii California Black Oak Quercus leana Lea's Oak Quercus lobata Valley Oak, Roble Oak, California White Oak Quercus macrocarpa Bur Oak, Mossycup Oak Quercus marilandica Blackjack Oak, Jack Oak Quercus mongolica Mongolian Oak Quercus montana Mountain Chestnut, Oak, Chestnut, Oak, Rock Chestnust Oak Quercus muehlenbergii Chinkapin Oak, Chinquapin Oak, Yellow Chestnut, Oak Quercus myrsinifolia Chinese Evergreen Oak, Bamboo-leaf Oak Quercus nigra Water Oak, Possum Oak Quercus palustris Pin Oak, Swamp Spanish Oak Quercus petraea Sessile Oak, Durmast Oak, Irish Oak Quercus phellos Willow, Oak Quercus prinoides Dwarf Chinquapin Oak, Dwarf Chestnut, Oak, Scrub Chestnut, Oak Quercus robur English Oak Quercus rubra Northern Red Oak Quercus sadleriana Sadler Oak, Deer Oak Quercus stellata Post Oak Quercus suber Cork Oak Quercus turbinella Scrub Live Oak Quercus undulata Wavyleaved Oak Quercus vaccinifolia Huckleberry, Oak Quercus velutina Black Oak Quercus virginiana Southern Live Oak, Live Oak Quercus wislizeni Interior Live Oak, Chapparal Oak