Willow leafroller

The Willow leafroller (Earias clorana) is a moth species belonging to the family Noctuidae. It is considered a significant pest in willow nurseries and plantation forestry, where its larvae feed on the apical growth of young willow and poplar trees.

The host range is primarily limited to trees of the genus Salix (willows) and occasionally Populus (poplars). The pest is particularly attracted to succulent, fast-growing tips, causing significant stress to young trees and nursery stock during the most critical stages of early development.

The life cycle consists of two generations per year. The species overwinters in the pupal stage within a robust, boat-shaped silk cocoon, typically attached to bark or nearby debris. In late spring, the adult moths emerge to mate and lay eggs on the leaves and buds of host plants.

The damage is characterized by larvae feeding on the terminal buds and spinning the apical leaves together with silk, forming a protected nest. This feeding behavior kills the primary growing point, causing the plant to produce multiple secondary side shoots, which results in stunted growth and distorted stem form.

Control strategies should focus on integrated pest management (IPM). Cultural practices such as pruning and destroying the infested shoot tips before pupation are highly effective in smaller areas. For commercial plantations, chemical control using targeted insecticides should be timed to match the hatching period of the larvae.

• Frequent scouting of terminal shoot tips in late spring.
• Physical removal of infested leaf nests.
• Monitoring moth flight activity using pheromone traps if applicable.