Bug FAQBayberry Leaftier Moth
Strepsicrates smithiana · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Tortricidae
The adult moth has a wingspan of roughly 14 to 15 mm. It originates from the southern United States and extends through Central and South America, reaching places like Florida, Texas, Georgia, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Cuba and the Galápagos Islands. Its caterpillars feed on the leaves of Myrica cerifera, Myrica faya and guava, rolling the leaves as they eat.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
The adult’s wingspan measures about 14 to 15 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Larvae eat the leaves of Myrica cerifera, Myrica faya and Psidium guajava, rolling the leaves while feeding.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
It is native to the southern part of North America and continues southward through South America, including Florida, Texas, Georgia and several Caribbean islands.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 17 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Mississippi, Florida, North Carolina, Louisiana, Alabama, Texas, New York, Georgia.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: native in North America; native in United States; native in Canada. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
What plants do the larvae feed on?
The caterpillars eat Myrica cerifera, Myrica faya and guava leaves, rolling the leaves as they feed.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Tortricidae)
Oblique-banded Leafroller MothChoristoneura rosaceanaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Garden TortrixClepsis peritanaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Common MarbleSyricoris lacunanaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Red-banded Leafroller MothArgyrotaenia velutinanaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Light Brown Apple MothEpiphyas postvittanaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Aster and Reddish Eucosma Moths and AlliesEucosma parmatanaSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strepsicrates_smithiana
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-26 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-26.