Females deposit their eggs with their long, penetrating ovipositors on developing Hemerocallis flower buds during May through early July although this may vary by location.

Females lay eggs on developing Hemerocallis buds which hatch into 2-mm-long, elongate, legless white larvae.

[5] Contarinia quinquenotata possibly originated in Asia where wild Hemerocallis are native[5] although it was first recorded in Europe in the 1800s.

The midge has been slowly spreading across the world in infested Hemerocallis plants and soil.

[5] Devaluation of infested plants by their failure to produce the attractive flowers favoured by gardeners for their colourful displays.