adult moths are about 3/4 inch long and 1 1/2 inches
across outspread wings
male forewings are gray and have irregular white spot near the tip
female forewings usually are duller than those of the male
hind wings of both sexes have a pinkish-white luster, bordered by a smoky-brown band
newly hatched larva has a jet-black head and light body, turning darker when about 3 days old
fully grown larva is 1 1/3 inches and varies from light-green to almost black
front of head is marked with a prominent inverted Y, but this character is not always reliable identification
larvae have three yellowish-white lines down the back from head to tail
on each side next to each outer dorsal line is a wider dark stripe below which is an equally wide, wavy, yellow stripe, splotched with red
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Photo credit: W. L. Sterling, Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University
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tiny larva begins feeding on its egg shell immediately after hatching, but
soon attacks plants near the soil surface
larvae grow rapidly and within 2 or 3 days begin devouring plants
frequently do considerable damage to corn ears, similar to that caused by corn earworms
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