Bug FAQDusky Leafroller Moth
Orthotaenia undulana · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Tortricidae
Also called: Woodland Marble
The dusky leafroller moth has a wingspan of about 15 to 20 mm and its wings are a mix of light beige, white and darker patches, making it blend in with surfaces and look like bird droppings when at rest. It lives across the Palearctic region, where the adult flies from May through mid-August, and its caterpillars feed on plants such as honeysuckle, Vaccinium, pine and birch.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
The moth’s coloration is light beige and white with darker areas, helping it hide on surfaces. When it rests, its pattern can make it look like a bird’s dropping.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Its wingspan ranges from 15 to 20 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It is found throughout the Palearctic realm.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
The larvae eat honeysuckle, Vaccinium species, pine and birch.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Adults are on the wing from May until mid-August.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
The flight period spans May through mid-August.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its native range is the Palearctic region.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 25 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Michigan, Washington, Montana, Vermont, Alaska, Minnesota, Massachusetts, Wisconsin.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: native in North America; native in Canada. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
When can I expect to see adult dusky leafroller moths?
Adults are active and can be seen flying from May through mid-August.
Source: Wikipedia
What do the caterpillars eat?
The caterpillars feed on honeysuckle, Vaccinium, pine and birch leaves.
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/Orthotaenia_undulana
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-25 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-25.