Usually associated with cool wet weather.
Flies deposit eggs in moist soil containing decaying plant material.
Infested seeds will fail to sprout or develop weak plants, larvae may also bore into the roots and under ground stems of larger plants. Adult females lay an average of 100 eggs over a 3-4 week period. Eggs are elongate, pearly white, with a reticulate pattern. Under normal field conditions, eggs hatch in 2-4 days. Development of seedcorn maggots from egg to adult occurs in 21-40 days.