White-spotted Leafroller

Argyrotaenia alisellana

June 25, 2002

This little moth represents a new family for the site, the Tortricidae.  They are generally small and bell or box-shaped. Apparently this shape led the namer of this family to compare it to the shape of a tortoise - hence "tort-ricidae".

 The caterpillars feed on the foliage of various oaks, which are rolled into a tube and held closed with silk.