Maruca vitrata is a pantropical insect pest of leguminous crops like pigeon pea, cowpea, mung bean and soybean.

In some cases early instars feed on flower peduncles and young stems.

[2] M. vitrata prefers to lay its eggs on the flowering bodies of the cowpea plant.

Efforts have been made to deter M. vitrata from reproducing on the plant ranging from pesticides to a chemical specifically designed to sterilize the moth.

Asia, Africa, North, South and Central America, the Caribbean, Europe, Australia & Oceania.