Partially grown larvae appear to have pairs of triangular dark markings along the back of each body segment inside of the light-colored stripes. Armyworm caterpillars can be identified by examining the front of the head capsule. Adult moths lay clusters of eggs on host plants and then covers them with scales from her body. Adult moths emerge from the pupae. Several generations can be produced each year, each being completed in 35 to 45 days to several months depending on temperature, food and environmental factors.
Caterpillars have chewing mouthparts.
Adults have siphoning mouths. This is one of the most common caterpillars encountered in the vegetable garden, feeding on leaves during the day. Caterpillars strip foliage from one plant and then move on to the next available food plant. Although certain plants are preferred hosts, such as cotton, tomatoes, chrysanthemums, forages and turfgrasses, larvae will feed on a large number of plants. In cotton, larvae also tunnel into developing cotton bolls.