The fruitworms' name is derived from their habit of eating deep holes into the fruits of apple, peach, pear, cherry and plum trees. In the past few years, fruitworms have become a serious problem on apples, cherries and pears in the Missouri and Illinois in 1970. Several species occur in the north central states. Eggs are about 0.8 mm in diameter and 0.5 mm in height. Freshly laid eggs are white with a grayish tinge.
Distinct ridges radiate from the micropilar area.
Six instars occur. The larvae are generally large and robust in various shades of green marked with yellowish or whitish longitudinal stripes. Larvae are 35 to 40 mm long. The pupa is about 20 to 30 mm long, about 10 mm wide, and shiny. The adults are typical noctuid moths with considerable range in color in the forewings.