Pest profile

Eyespotted Bud Moth

Spilonota ocellana · Lepidoptera: Tortricidae[2]

The eyespotted bud moth is a small moth whose chocolate-brown larvae web leaves and buds together on apple trees in spring; it usually doesn't need control.[1]

Eyespotted bud moth, a grayish moth with a wide light band across each forewing
Eyespotted bud moth, a grayish moth with a wide light band across each forewing. Photo: Stephen James McWilliam, public domain (CC0), via iNaturalist

How to identify it

  • Adults are grayish moths about 0.4 inch long with a wide light band on each forewing.[1]
  • Larvae are chocolate brown with black heads and grow up to 1 inch long.[1]

Where it lives

The PNW Insect Management Handbook covers it on apples and hazelnuts in the Pacific Northwest.[1]

US map: public records from 14 states since 1990 (GBIF).

Biology and life cycle

Larvae spend winter in cocoons on the bark in the crotches of small limbs and become active around budbreak.[1]

They feed in nests of webbed leaves, pupate there, and moths emerge in early to midsummer.[1]

Eggs are laid under leaves; the new larvae feed there until early August, then build their winter cocoons.[1]

Damage and signs

  • Larvae feed on leaves and buds inside webbed nests.[1]

Health risk

It feeds on plants; the PNW Insect Management Handbook mentions no risk to people.[1]

Control

Prevention

Look for larvae in nests of webbed-together leaves in spring; treatment is rarely necessary.[1]

Pesticides

The handbook lists carbaryl for home use if needed and notes it's highly toxic to bees.[1]

Common questions

What brown caterpillars web together my apple leaves in spring?
They may be eyespotted bud moth larvae, which are chocolate brown with black heads.[1]
Do I need to spray for eyespotted bud moth?
Rarely; the PNW handbook says it doesn't usually require control on apples.[1]

Sources

  1. Pacific Northwest Pest Management Handbooks (OSU, WSU, University of Idaho), “Apple: Eyespotted bud moth (Insect Management Handbook).” pnwhandbooks.org/insect/tree-fruit/apple/apple-eyespotted-bud-moth (accessed 2026-10-06)
  2. iNaturalist, “Spilonota ocellana taxon page (order and family).” www.inaturalist.org/taxa/231405 (accessed 2026-10-06)

Updated 2026-10-14. Built from sourced records. Spot an error? Tell us.