Dichomeris ligulella

The palmerworm (Dichomeris ligulella) is a moth of the Gelechiidae family. It is found in eastern North America.

The wingspan is 15-18 mm. Adults are on wing from April to October. There is one generation per year.

The larvae feed on apple, hackberry, hazel and oak. The larvae skeletonize leaves and fold or roll them during feeding. It is occasionally responsible for widespread defoliation of hardwood species. Outbreaks rarely last more than one or two years and usually occur during unusually hot and dry springs.