Blackheaded Leafroller
Common NameBlackheaded Leafroller
Scientific NameAcleris variana
FamilyTortricidae
SubfamilyTortricinae
Wingspan (mm)20
Wing Patterncryptic
Primary Colorsbrown, grey, black
HabitatConiferous forests
Geographic RangeNorth America (Canada and northern United States)
Host Plantsspruce, fir, hemlock
Flight PeriodJuly to October
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid on conifer needles in late summer and overwinter. Larvae hatch in spring, feed on new needles, rolling them together, and pupate within the rolled leaves.
Identification TipsLook for its distinctive mottled brown and grey cryptic pattern, often with darker patches, and its association with coniferous forests. It typically rests with wings forming a bell-shaped or somewhat squared-off profile.
Description
A small, cryptically patterned moth with mottled brown, grey, and blackish markings on its forewings, often appearing somewhat squared-off when at rest.
