H. assulta adults are migratory and are found all over the Old World Tropics including Asia,[1] Africa, and Australia.

[2] Because of its feeding behavior, H. assulta is considered a pest of economically viable crops including tomatoes, tobacco, and hot peppers.

[1] H. assulta is a pest of red peppers (Capsicum frutescens ), tobacco (Nicotiatna tabacum), tomato,[5] and onion.

[1] H. assulta is one of very few insects that can successfully feed on and damage plants, such as hot peppers, containing capsaicin.

The preference for bush red pepper, tobacco, and tomato may be correlated to the semiochemicals or allelochemicals of the host.

[8] Mating behavior of adult males includes antennal movement, wing elevation and vibration, extension of hairs, and tapping of the female ovipositor, leading to copulation.

[9] Female calling and sex pheromone release are also mediated by circadian rhythms entrained to light.

Using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry, researchers have identified two sub-populations that respond to different combinations of sex pheromones.

The suboesophageal ganglion, a portion of the central nervous system in the insect, controls pheromone release.

A phermonotropic factor called PBAN (pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide) is synthesized and released into the hemolymph or blood-like fluid found in insects.

The maximum pheromone titers in the gland corresponded to the peak calling activities, indicating that these events are synchronous and predictable.

When moths are placed in constant light, there is a longer retention and slower decrease of Z9-16: AL in the pheromone gland.

The moths may continue to produce the pheromone for a longer period of time, or that the degradation mechanism is inactive and the chemical may only decrease through release.

[10] H. assulta is considered to be one of the most destructive pests for various economic crops like tobacco and hot peppers.

H. assulta that were fed on red peppers were more susceptible to certain insecticides such as fenvalerate, but became more resistant to chemicals like inoxacarb, phoxim and methomyl.