The covering of the head and thorax match the forewings, and the abdomen is somewhat paler. The hind wings are white with a broad, dark brown, outer marginal band and usually a narrow, brown, intermarginal band. It is approximately 0.5 mm wide. Larva - There are five to six instars varying from 1.5 to 44 mm in length. Newly hatched larvae are yellowish white with dark head capsules.
All instars have five pairs of fleshy prolegs.
Pupa - The pupa is about 31.5 mm long and 6 mm wide. Initially, a shiny reddish brown, it becomes dark brown when adult emergence approaches. Frequently encountered in the southern United States, it has been found as far north as Saskatchewan and has been recently introduced into the Hawaiian Islands. In North Carolina, it occurs in virtually every corn field sometime during the growing season. Host Plants - The corn earworm is found on over 100 host plants, but corn is the preferred host.