Mediterranean corn stalkborer

The adults have a wingspan of 30-40 mm and greyish yellowish forewings marked with a marginal band and indistinct black dots. The hindwings are white.

The eggs are grooved, whitish when laid and turning pinkish later. The larvae are 30-40 mm long when fully developed and yellowish to brownish with a rust-coloured back. The pupae is about 20 mm long and chestnut brown.

In Mediterranean regions, four generations occur per year and adult flights begin in March; other, sometimes more significant flights occur in April, June, August and October. The eggs are laid on the underside of leaves in small clusters of about ten and hatch after about a week. The larvae feed on the leaves for a few days and then bore into the stems where they continue to feed. Development takes 40-50 days. Pupation usually takes place in the feeding galleries. Fully grown larvae overwinter in the host plants.