It is found in China, Japan, South-east Asia, India, eastern Australia, New Zealand, and some Pacific islands.

The term "armyworm" is used because of their habit to spread out in a line across a lawn or pasture, and slowly "march" forward, consuming the foliage they encounter.

Eggs are spherical and milky white with a thinly reticulate surface.

The larvae feed on a range of agricultural plants like Zea mays, Sorghum bicolor and Oryza sativa and are thus considered a pest.

[5] China experiences periodic outbreaks of northern armyworm infestation.

Among biological controls, ducks are good; they can locate larvae hiding in the soil or at the base of plants easily and prey on them.