Occurrence in the British Isles unconfirmed. This common native of North America is included on the British list on the basis of individuals said to have taken been in June 1817, near West Ham and near Cork in June 1826, probably either imported or misidentified. Wingspan 32-45 mm. Larva feeds on cereal crops, Cruciferae and similar, causing sufficient damage to be a serious pest in some areas, over-wintering as a pupa; no evidence of breeding in the UK.