[1] It is a small (15 mm wingspan), grey-brown moth whose larvae (caterpillars) feed in the pods of garden peas.

[2] They have a long antennae (compared to the body size), and brownish grey wings with white and yellow spots in herringbone pattern on the edge.

After about 7–10 days,[4] or 1 to 3 weeks, depending on the temperature,[3] the caterpillars hatch from the eggs and then emerging larvae go through a very short wandering stage (1 day),[3] before burrowing into the pods to feed on the developing peas, for periods of up to a month.

[3] In the UK, insect netting is used as a preventative,[2] or pheromone traps are used to monitor pea moth problems.

It is advised to wait up to 10 to 15 days from the beginning of sustained moth catches until application of insecticide, to allow egg laying and hatching to take place.