Young larvae are initially white, becoming pale green as they develop. Mature larvae reach 30-40 mm in size with a green body bearing a white stripe along each side.
Clustered faint white stripes are usually also present along the back. The head and thoracic legs are pale green to brown. False prolegs are present on abdominal segments 3 and 4.
A wide range of cultivated plants including crucifers, lettuce, pepper, potato, tomato, watermelon and cultivated flowers.
Young larvae prefer to feed on the underside of leaves while later instars chew entire holes, usually in the centre of leaves. Larvae will bore into the head of cabbages and lettuces to feed and feeding sites become filled with sticky wet frass.
