This caterpillar grows to about 1 3/4 inches. It has long, fluffy white or yellow hair with black middorsal tufts and spots. It has 2 long black lashes near the head and a single one near the rear. The red prolegs separate them from other similar looking caterpillars (B). Adult moths have a wingspan of 1 1/4 to 1 5/8 inches. The forewing is gray with brown lines and shading. There is a large dark brown patch near the base, and small translucent spots near the apex. The hindwing is reddish brown.
The frequency of occurrence is not known. They are often seen in late summer resting on exposed foliage.
The pupa overwinters. Common foodplants are hickory, walnut, hornbeam, ash, elm, oak and willow.
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