Omnivorous leaftier: A ubiquitous and often minor pest of small grains and other seed crops of Western Oregon

The omnivorous leaftier, Cnephasia longana Haworth, belongs to the family Tortricidae and is primarily represented by bell-shaped adult moths (figure 1) and larvae with a tan head capsule, a black shield and a greenish-brown or yellowish-green body with lighter-colored stripes running along the side (figure 2). The omnivorous leaftier originated in Europe and is widely distributed in Asia, Africa and North America. The first appearance of this insect in Oregon was noted in 1929 on strawberries and Dutch bulbous iris plantations near Portland. Soon, it was reported in Washington and California feeding on strawberry and flax grown for seed, respectively. As the common name suggests, this insect pest has a wide host range and is known to cause damage to species from more than 20 plant families.

Description and life cycle

There is only one generation per year (figure 3). This insect has a complete metamorphosis: egg, larva, pupa and adult. An online degree-day model can be used to predict the occurrence of various life stages of the omnivorous leaftier.

Eggs are laid in small batches or singly, often concealed in soil, debris or plant material. The eggs usually go unnoticed in the field. Eggs are about 1/32 inch in diameter, are light salmon in color when first laid, and eventually darken before hatching. One female can lay up to 200 eggs. Egg-laying in Oregon fields typically occurs during June and July.

Larva is the only damaging stage. Each larvae is roughly 1/2-inch long and can undergo color changes as it matures. After hatching, first instar larvae immediately construct a silk hibernaculum and hibernate for the remainder of the summer and the following winter near the egg site.

Larvae leave the hibernaculum in early spring and disperse in search of a suitable host by ballooning with the aid of silk threads. Early instar larvae start feeding by mining in leaves at the bases of plants, usually in late March through April. Late instar larvae are frequently observed in fields in May and June webbing together seed heads (figure 4) where they feed and live until pupation.

Pupation usually occurs within a silken cocoon inside the webbing on the host plant. Adults emerge two to three weeks later.

Adults are small moths with a 3/4-inch wingspan. Male and female moths are morphologically distinct (sexually dimorphic, figure 1). Males are a uniform white to yellowish-brown, while females are variably marked with light to dark brown bands. The yellowish, narrow, elongated forewings separate this species from other tortricidae moths.

Host plants and damage

Omnivorous leaftier is known to feed on several important crops in Oregon, including clover seed, grass seed, hazelnuts, hops, small grains, strawberry and vetch (listed in an alphabetical order here and in the PNW Insect Management Handbook).

They are also known to cause damage to numerous plants in nurseries. This insect is usually considered to be a minor pest in these crops, except in “outbreak” years when the larvae are present in high numbers (figure 5).