Redbud leaffolder larva on a redbud leaf. The larva made an enclosure in which to live by folding the leaf in half (I pulled the enclosure apart to take the picture). Folding begins as the larva spins silk bundles at the base of the leaf to draw the two sides together. Each of these bundles consists of hundreds or thousands of individual silk threads making them very strong and securely attached to the leaf surface. To complete closing the structure, the larva spins smaller silk bundles along the perimeter of the leaf (top of image) to "seal up" the structure. Inside, protected from predators and adverse weather, the larva feeds on the softer leaf tissue while leaving many of the veins uneaten. The remaining vein complex gives the appearance that the leaf has been "skeletonized". If the leaf enclosure is opened, the striking black and white larva (top, center) writhes around so quickly and violently that it would scare most predators away (I know it startled me!). check

LepidopteraGelechiidaeFascista cercerisellaredbud leaffolderlarvasilk