In the United States the insect occurs in all major wheat-growing areas from the Atlantic Coast to the Great Plains and parts of California, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington.
Wheat is the preferred host of the Hessian fly.
The typical life cycle of the fly begins with fall emergence of adults from infested wheat stubble or volunteer wheat. The female oviposits on the upper leaf surface of plants. Larvae crawl to the crown of the plant where they feed. Most larvae become full grown before the onset of cold weather. The following spring, larvae transform to pupae, and adults emerge and infest wheat about the time the plants begin to joint.