Leaftier numbers are generally at low levels in fields that are burned every 2 years. The blueberry leaftier overwinters in the egg stage as a partly developed larva in the egg case. Late-instar larvae move about freely and leaves are often webbed and rolled together. The larvae pupate during June either in leaves spun together or hanging freely by the cremaster attached to any part of the plants. The adult moths emerge during July and reach peak numbers in late July.
Males emerge first followed by females several days later.
Eggs are laid singly on dead leaf litter around the base of blueberry plants in late July and early August. Initially, they are white, but within 3 days they turn brown and enter a prolonged diapause for 5 - 6 months. A few eggs hatch in the fall, but their larvae cease feeding and die in 3 - 4 days. Other species of leaftiers and leafrollers inhabit lowbush blueberry fields and cause damage similar to that of the blueberry leaftier. However, they are not as prevalent and have not caused any substantial crop losses.