The Oak Beauty moth has a wingspan of 1.50 to 2.25 inches. The female is larger than the male. The wings are powdery light brown to dark brown with a variable white patch on the apex of the forewing or none at all. The female has broader white areas. The coloration is highly variable, but the shape of the postmedian line seems to always be consistent. The larva is thick bodied and robust, and is mottled gray and brown. The head is flat and slopes inward. The thorax is swollen and humped.
The frequency of occurrence at Fontenelle Forest and Neale Woods is not known. The individual shown here was photographed in Fontenelle Forest in late April. The adults are nocturnal and are attracted to artificial lights.
The scientific name was formerly Nacophora quernaria. The larvae eat the leaves of deciduous trees including basswood, cherry, elm, hawthorne, oak, poplar and willow. Adults fly from April to October. The species overwinters as a pupa.
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