Petals lose pigmentation, senesce early, and drop prematurely. The life cycle requires 11 to 13 days at 27 C. Eggs hatch in 72 to 80 hours. The first and second instars last about 3 days each, the prepupal stage requires 24 hours or less, and the pupal stage varies from 24 to 48 hours. Eggs are laid inside the tissue of the disc floret. Females are 15 times more numerous than males.
Reproduction is both sexual and parthenogenetic.
New females begin to lay eggs 72 to 96 hours after emergence from the pupal stage.