Pupation lasts about 10 days, and the adult moth emerges, generally from late May to early June. After mating, eggs are laid on the upper surfaces of leaves in yellowish green masses containing up to 200 eggs. A female moth can lay up to 900 eggs during her week-long ovipositor period. The eggs incubate for 10 to 12 days. The newly hatched larvae crawl to nearby leaves or lower themselves on silken threads.
Wind can transport the larvae some distance to other feeding sites.
The new larvae begin feeding on the undersides of leaves along the midrib or other large vein. These first-generation larvae complete development and enter pupation in mid to late July. The emerging adults are on the wing from early August to mid September. These adults lay eggs that hatch to larvae that feed through three stages and then seek shelter for winter, usually late August to late September. Habits Leafrollers produce silk for a number of reasons.