Bell-shaped appearance of adult oak leaftier 2. Oak leaftier larva on red oak bud 3. Oak leaftier damaged scarlet oak leaves 4. Oak leafroller damaged red oak leaves. Mature, oak leaftier larva 6.
Outbreaks periodically develop with frequent and severe defoliation resulting in tree mortality.
The last outbreak during the 1960's and 1970's covered large areas of Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia. Either moth species may dominate during an outbreak depending upon which oak species are present. Resting adults of both species hold their wings in a characteristic bell shape. Adults of both species are distinctly marked. Despite their small size, larvae of both species, if abundant, can severely defoliate an oak tree.