This moth has a wingspan of 2 3/4 – 3 3/4 inches. The forewing is powder gray at the tip around the edge to the base. It has a dark brown shade line from the base to the outer margin. There is a thin, wavy black submarginal line. The hindwing is pinkish red with black bands and a white fringe. The body is a plain tan color.
This moth is common from mid-summer through fall. It can sometimes be seen in the daytime hiding in kiosks, in the bark on tree trunks or sitting in vegetation. It comes readily to bait usually late at night.
The caterpillars are elongate with dark spots along the bottom. The coloration is very variable. The preferred food plants of the larva are cottonwood and willows. The moth overwinters as eggs laid in bark crevices or in litter at the base of the food plant.
Disclaimer: The content of NatureSearch is provided by dedicated volunteer Naturalists of Fontenelle Forest who strive to provide the most accurate information available. Contributors of the images retain their copyrights. The point of contact for this page is: Loren Padelford.