The over-wintering larvae become active when trees break dormancy, and complete their development about 3 weeks after the apple blossom period. Adults begin to emerge in late May or early June. Eggs hatch in about 10-12 days. This generation takes almost two months to complete development. Adult flight of the second generation occurs in August and the larvae hatch in August and September.
Young larvae construct hibernation sites on twigs or bark to spend the winter.
This species has three feeding periods during the year. Over-wintered larvae feed on developing flower buds and floral parts throughout the blossom period. After petal fall, these larvae continue to feed on developing fruit. As these larvae reach the third instar, they display an increasing propensity to damage fruit. The second-generation larvae, which develop in late summer and fall, feed primarily on leaves until they enter diapause, although they may occasionally damage fruit.