The cotton bollworm moth has brown forewings with a single dark spot on the wing surrounded by fine dark markings. The hind wings are light brown with a dark border with a light patch in the border. The underside of the forewing has a small black spot and a larger c-shaped mark. and a black spot. The cotton bollworm is a serious agricultural pest and has developed resistance to a wide range of insecticides. The adult moths are very similar in appearance to the related helicoverpa punctigera which has no pale mark in the black border of the hind wing. The caterpillar is pale green with small black dots, becoming darker and developing dark lines running along the body as it matures.