Adults are dark brown or black with spotted or mottled wings and a wingspan of about 30 mm. Alfalfa, beans, clover, cowpea, soybean, strawberry, vetch, many common weeds, and other legumes. These larvae are common in soybeans, but rarely reach pest status unless found in combination with other defoliating caterpillars. Low numbers of green cloverworm larvae serve as a valuable food source for beneficial insects and diseases. Green cloverworms overwinter either as pupae or adults.
Moths become active in the spring and lay their eggs on the undersides of leaves.
Eggs hatch in less than a week and larvae may feed for four weeks. Larvae burrow into litter or soil and pupate. Four or more generations occur annually in Georgia. Control is rarely needed for green cloverworm. Naturally occurring pathogens normally keep numbers below economic levels.