The Pacific fruit-piercing moth differs in this aspect because it is the adult moth that is the damaging stage, and the larvae are essentially not harmful. Once the moth has punctured the skin of the fruit, a process that usually takes a few seconds, it feeds upon the juices of the fruit. Damage caused by this pest is not only a result of the direct feeding of this moth but also by the fungal and bacterial infections that develop at the wound site. This moth is a known vector of Oospora citri, a fungus that rots the fruit and has a penetrating odor that attracts this moth. Incidence of damage by this moth is normally low, however when outbreaks occur, most of the crop is affected.
Generations are continuous throughout the year.
When moth populations are low, a single female moth lays her eggs in batches of up to 100. When moth populations are high, eggs are laid in batches of several hundred eggs by individual females. Eggs are generally laid on the underside of leaves but may be found on the bark or on other plants nearby. This moth has 5 larval stages, or instars, separated by 4 molts. After each molt, the discarded skins are eaten by the newly emerged caterpillars.