Spodoptera exigua: Beet armyworm

"Spodoptera exigua", commonly known as rosquilla verde in Spain or gusano soldado in Latin America, and beet armyworm in the USA and other English speaking countries; is a Lepidoptera which belongs to the super family of the Noctuidae. This is a migratory plague of a polyphagous nature which causes it to affect horticultural produce such as peppers, tomatoes, aubergines, cucumbers, beans, water melons and other plants.
The female worm is extremely fertile throughout seasons of warm temperatures and as a result is able to lay up to 1,700 eggs; the level of fertility decreasing in the cold season to around 500 eggs.

The eggs are laid mainly on the underneath part of the leaves. Once emergence occurs, the larvae immediately begin to eat the newly formed leaves and flowers, moving together in first phase clusters. However, throughout their development, they separate themselves and continue to devour both leaves and fruit.