During the preoviposition period, which lasts about 45 days, the adults feed most extensively. The longevity of the adult usually ranges from 90 to 100 days. Eggs, deposited in the soil and leaf litter, hatch in 2 to 3 weeks. During their development, the larvae molt five or six times within earthen cells in the soil constructed by the larvae prior to molting. Three weeks later, adults emerge.
Adults feed at night and drop from the plant, feigning death when disturbed.