The two light, sinuous bands on which the darker spiracles stand out, are very characteristic. The cremaster bears two long parallel spines. This polyphagous moth is one of the principal enemies of cotton and maize . In temperate regions, it overwinters as a pupa buried several cm in the soil. When still very young and small, the caterpillars burrow deep into tomatoes and are overlooked in peeled fruits intended for canning, thus causing a high rate of commercial losses.
Berries are usually three-quarters hollowed out from the outside.
In Leguminoseae, flowers are attacked and seed pods pierced. Found practically worldwide, it is one of the major pests in tropical and subtropical regions.