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Identification
Pinkish caterpillar with a brown head that tunnels inside iris leaves and rhizomes; entry shows as watery streaks on leaf blades.
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Life Cycle
Eggs overwinter on old foliage, hatch in spring; larvae tunnel through summer before pupating in soil near the rhizome.
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Damage Signs
Larvae mine down through leaves into rhizomes, hollowing them out and often introducing soft rot that kills the plant.
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Treatment
Cut and destroy old iris foliage in autumn. Dig up and discard severely tunnelled, rotten rhizomes.
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Prevention
Remove and destroy all dead iris leaves each autumn to eliminate overwintering eggs.