This moth is uncommon in Fontenelle Forest and Neale Woods. It has been photographed once at Fontenelle Forest Nature Center in mid-August 2015. It ranges from southern Ontario and Maine to Florida west to Texas, north to Wisconsin. Adults fly from July to October. There is one generation a year.

Adults feed primarily on leaves of hickory, but may also eat the leaves of walnut. It overwinters as an egg which is laid on tree bark in the fall. It has 7 instars, which differs from other hickory-feeding underwings which have 6. It is thought this is because of the small eggs laid by females and the large size of the last instar. Although the eggs hatch at the same time as other hickory feeders, the 7th instar growth is prolonged sometimes lasting a month (“Owlet Caterpillars of North America,” David L. Wagner, et al.)