The Taro caterpillar is an important pest of cabbage, cauliflower, cowpea, peas, potato and tomato. However, it also affects many other crop species including coffee, cotton, maize and rice, as well as taro and tobacco.

During the last two years, wheat crops in Madhya Pradesh, a large central state in India, have faced infestations of Taro caterpillars. However, this has been an issue on the rise for the past seven years.