Adults emerge in May, mate and lay eggs on seedling corn. Later generations lay eggs on corn silks and on leaves adjacent to flower buds and fruit on other host plants. Females lay 500 to 3,000 eggs one at a time over a 5-7 day period. Larvae emerge in 3-5 days and have a wide host range, but prefer corn.
Moths are yellowish brown and each forewing has a dark spot near the center.