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A medium-size moth (3.5 cm wingspan) with grey-brown forewings and shining white hindwings. The pattern on the forewings is longitudinal. Background is yellow-brown or grey brown. There is a prominent black basal streak, and much of the cell is also black-filled. Veins are marked with a thin line of black scales, bordered on both sides by pale scales. The normal cross lines are reduced to a series of black spots or small blotches marking the upper half of the postmedian line, and a series of small black crescents or triangles between the veins at the terminal line. The fringe is dark brown with a few cream-colored scales mixed in. Hindwings are shining white, with a few dark scales marking the veins, particularly on the outer third, and with a series of small black dashes between the veins marking the terminal line. A faint median band is also indicated, particularly in females, by a few dark scales adjacent to the veins. The inner half of the fringe is cream and pale grey, the outer half white. The antennae are simple. Sexes are essentially alike.

Primarily a Great Basin species. Radiola occurs from north central Washington, south to western California, southern Nevada, northern Arizona and New Mexico, east to central Colorado, western Nebraska and western North Dakota. In Alberta (and Canada), found only in the Red Deer River badlands at Dinosaur Provincial Park.