In general, adult females lay several hundred eggs, singularly or in clusters. The eggs hatch in two days to two weeks. The larvae begin feeding immediately after hatching. After feeding for several days, the caterpillars molt and in the process increase greatly in size. The period between each molt is referred to as a larval instar .
Caterpillars pass through five to seven larval instars before they enter the pupal stage.
Many moth larvae construct small earthen cells below the surface of the soil in which they change to the pupa stage, while others construct silken cocoons. Two to three weeks are spent in the pupal stage, where they transform to adult moths. After the adult emerges from the soil or cocoon, mating takes place and the female is ready to lay eggs. Under optimum conditions, three to six weeks are required for most moths to develop from egg to adult. Damage Caterpillars begin feeding immediately after hatching.