Adult moth : Small 8-10mm long, grayish white, with three yellowish, diamond shaped-markings on the wings. Larvae : 8mm long, pale, yellowish-green with fine black hairs (fully grown).

Eggs (up to 350) laid by female, singly on leaves. Larvae hatch after 3-6 days and start pupation after 14-21 days. Adults emerge after 4-5 days, with a life-span of about 22 days. 8-12 generations are completed in a year.

Larvae cause serious damage to cole crops. Younger larvae scrape leaf tissues, with damage increasing from holes to skeletonisation of leaves as the larvae grow older.