The larvae are considered a pest on a wide range of tropical crops in South-East Asia, including Saccharum officinarum, Zea mays, Elaeis guineensis, Nicotiana tabacum, Arachis hypogaea, Sesamum, Hibiscus sabdariffa, Gossypium and Allium.
In Africa they have also been recorded feeding on Elaeis guineensis and Eriodendron anfractuosum.