Adult − 8−10mm long. Black and shiny body. Grooved wing covers with yellow hairs on them.
Larvae − 8−10mm long, creamy brown c-shaped body, with a reddish brown head.
Lifecycle
Female lays eggs, up to 1000 in her lifetime, in loose batches around host plant roots. After several days the larvae emerge and feed for several months.
They pupate for up to 20 days. Emerging adults feed on leaves and shoots and live for up to 100 days.
Habits
The adults cause damage by notching leaf margins (deeper than similar caterpillar damage).
Larvae feed on plant roots and can cause the plant to wilt and die.