Citrus cutworm has only one generation a year. After mating, female moths lay their round, milky white eggs mainly on the upperside of new leaves in clusters of 40 to 225. All but the youngest larvae have a whitish stripe along each side of the body. When disturbed, older larvae curl up and drop to the ground.
Pupae remain dormant until the following spring.
A smaller number of citrus cutworms cause more damage than larger numbers of other caterpillars because they are larger and move throughout the tree during feeding. Two parasites attack citrus cutworm larvae and are highly effective in reducing the next year's population. The parasitized larvae pupates in the soil where it is consumed by the parasite larva. Another parasitic wasp, Banchus sp., also attacks cutworm larva. The stomach poison cryolite is specific to foliage-feeding pests.