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This medium sized butterfly has a wingspan of 45-67 mm and black antennal clubs. Dorsal wing surface is purplish brown and there are dark eyespots on both the fore and hindwings. Ventral wing is also purplish brown. The ventral forewing has a row of four black spots that are aligned with each other, the spots are surrounded by diffuse white and have white pupils. It can be distinguished from other satyrids in Alberta by its purplish brown colour, the presence of large eyespots, and the angled hindwing margin. The short, barrel-shaped eggs are green (Bird et al., 1995). Larvae have green yellow heads with red-tipped horns. Their bodies are yellowish green with green and yellow stripes. They also have a cleft tail tipped with pink (Bird et al., 1995). Pupae are green with cream-coloured heads (Bird et al., 1995).

The Northern Pearly-eye is univoltine and overwinter as larvae (Bird et al., 1995). Males perch on tree trunks or vegetation up to 10 feet above ground at edges of clearings to wait for females (Opler et al., 1995). Females lay eggs singly on the host plant (Opler et al., 1995).

Unknown for Alberta. In the United States, larval host plants include: white grass (Leersia virginica), bearded shorthusk (Brachyelytrum erectum), False Melic Grass (Schizachne pupurascens), plumegrass (Erianthus), broadleaf uniola (Uniola latifolia), and bottlebrush (Hystrix patula) (Acorn 1993; Opler et al. 1995; Layberry et al. 1998; enature 2000). Adults feed on dung, fungi, carrion, mud, and sap from willows, poplars, and birch (Opler et al. 1995).

Recent records from central Alberta suggest that E. anthedon may be extending its range (Alberta Natural Heritage Information Centre, 2002). Its Canadian range extends east from Central Alberta to Nova Scotia (Layberry et al., 1998; Opler et al., 1995). In the United States, it is found south from the Canadian border to central Alabama and Mississippi and from Nebraska eastward (Opler et al., 1995).