The tomato fruitworm moth is usually light yellowish-olive with a single dark spot near the center of each forewing. Tobacco budworm moths are light olive to brownish-olive with a wingspan of 3.2 to 3.8 cm. Each forewing bears 3 slanted dark olive or brown bands.
Hind wings are white with white borders.
Egg - Eggs of both species are similar in appearance. They are almost spherical with a flattened base, about 0.6 mm in diameter, and white or cream color. They develop a reddish-brown band just prior to hatch. Larva - Both species are similar in appearance. Newly emerged larvae are yellowish-white with a brown head.