As the new needles lengthen, the rapidly growing larvae continue to feed. It is during this stage that most of the damage occurs. They web the new foliage together loosely and feed inside, where they are somewhat protected from predators and other enemies. In the late larval stages budworms have brownish heads and brownish-olive bodies and each body segment has two conspicuous pairs of white spots. About 40 days after feeding begins in the springusually about the end of Junethe larvae pupate inside feeding webs or on foliage.
Adult emergence occurs a week or so later and the cycle is complete.
There is one generation per year.