Mating occurs and females deposit eggs on the old leaves near the base of the plants. Each female may lay as many as 150-200 eggs. Eggs are deposited in clusters of 25-30. The adults are secre- tive, and prefer shaded habitats. Therefore infestations are usually heaviest in protected, thickly planted gardens.
Control is based on destroying the eggs.
During division, every few years, all damaged rhizomes should be discarded. The use of insecticides may also be recommended. Dimethoate may be used for control. Sprays should be applied at 2-week intervals from the time the first growth starts until June l, to kill the young larvae. To control older larvae in fans and rhizomes, spray with dimethoate.