Common cutworm

Early instars of the Caterpillars are cream coloured. Later instars are green with a pattern of pale lines running along the body and across between the segments. They have a jet black head shield, and a kidney-shaped prothoracic shield and anal plate. Small black dots are scattered along the sides, marking the positions of primary setae. As the Caterpillars grow, the final instars become darker, until they end up grey-brown with a paler ventral surface. Some become almost black, and some pale brown with an orange tinge, even from the same batch of eggs. At the base of a foodplant, they construct a burrow in the soil. In this they hide by day, and climb the plant to feed by night.