Cacoecimorpha pronubana
Pest description and damage Portuguese laurel (Prunus lusitanica) is sometimes infested with the larvae of the carnation tortrix. This is a small (wingspan 0.5 to 0.9 inch), bell-shaped brown moth with reddish underwings and dark bands on the upper wings. The caterpillars are light brown or greenish with brown heads and are about 0.375 to 0.5 inch in length at maturity. The larvae feed by rolling leaves and tying them with webbing. The larvae are very active when disturbed, often wriggling backwards. The carnation tortrix attacks many broad-leaved plants but seldom causes serious damage. Outside the U.S., it is reported to be a serious pest of carnations.
Biology and life history Adult females lay yellow, flattened oval-round eggs in groups of ten to 200 for a total of 500-700. Eggs take five to 55 days to hatch. Larvae are active year-round and can disperse by ballooning on the wind. Pupation takes 10 to 15 days.
For biology, life history, monitoring and management
See "Leafroller and leaftier" in:
Management-chemical control
See Table 3 in: