The caterpillars of this species are known to create nests by tying the leaves of their host plant together.

Caterpillars are seen to follow one another in trails, a behavior prompted by the release of signaling pheromones from their spinnerets.

At first, A. rileyana was considered a subspecies of A. cerasivorana, but Obraztsov (1959) demonstrated that both adults and larvae of the two species can be separated.

[4][5] A. cerasivorana is characterized by an uncus with parallel sides in the male, a large blunt signum in the female, and smaller, sometimes body-colored pinacula on the larval abdomen.

In contrast, A. rileyana is characterized by a spatulate uncus in the male, a moderate pointed signum in the female, and very large, conspicuous, black pinacula on the larval abdomen.

Within the United States, it can be found towards the east in New England, the south in North Carolina, and the west in California, Utah, and Colorado.

The later instars are bright orange with the same contrasting dark sclerotization and with sparse moderately long pale setae.

Forewing color varies from bright orange to yellow, often with faint purplish markings.

[8] Unlike many tortricids, the larvae are social, and feeding occurs in silken nests on terminals of the host plants.

The webs are made around the terminal shoots of the host, sometimes enveloping entire plants.

[6] Before emerging, the pupae will force their way to the outer surface of the silk nest where the adult moth ecloses.

They make these tents by spinning silk threads between leaves and branches, which draws them into a compact nest.

In most cases, the colony finds a sufficient number of leaves in its contiguous patch to complete larval development.

To monitor an orchard for presence of caterpillars, one should look for the development of untidy nests of webbing, twigs, and leaves.

Larger populations of older larvae can be controlled with a residual insecticide, but damage is rarely sufficient to warrant treatment that may endanger the rest of the local environment.