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Pests
Leaf Roller Caterpillars on Kiwi Vines
Commonly affects: Actinidia deliciosa, A. chinensis (Kiwi)
Leaves are rolled or webbed together with caterpillars feeding inside, leaving ragged holes and sometimes damaging young fruit that touches rolled leaves.
Potential Causes
- 1Leaf roller moth larvae rolling leaves for shelter while feeding
- 2Warm weather coinciding with moth egg-laying periods
- 3Dense canopy providing ample shelter for larvae
Solution Steps
- 1Hand-pick and destroy rolled leaves containing larvae
- 2Apply Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), an organic caterpillar-specific treatment, for larger infestations
- 3Prune to reduce overly dense canopy that shelters larvae
- 4Monitor young fruit for feeding damage where it touches rolled leaves
Prevention Tip
Bt is an effective, low-impact treatment specifically targeting caterpillars without harming beneficial insects or pollinators.
