This pest invaded Western Colorado in the late 1980's and has been a serious pest of geranium and many other herbaceous flowers in this area since that time. The favorite herbaceous flower for this insect in Colorado is considered to be the geranium. However, when petunias and geraniums are in the same planting bed, petunias also are eagerly consumed. Impatiens, nicotiana, ageratum, dandelion, marigold and several other bedding plants are also attacked.
Adults lay eggs singly on leaves of targeted host plants during early evening.
Eggs are laid on the flower buds of geranium. Other flowers receive their complement of eggs on the leaves. The larval budworms are striped and quite variable in color from dark brown to red or even green depending in part on the plant they are feeding on. Young larvae tunnel primarily through small buds and stems while larger caterpillers chew holes in flower buds, petals and leaves. Larvae take one month to eat their way to maturity.