Each forewing has a dark spot near the center.
Eyes are usually light green.
Larva - The 5 to 6 larval instars vary considerably in color. Newly hatched larvae are about 1.5 mm long and yellowish-white with dark head capsules. All instars have 5 pairs of fleshy prolegs. The corn earworm infests over 100 plants, but corn is the preferred host. The earworm is also found occasionally on wild hosts such as toadflax and vetch.