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Variable. The forewing is beige to brownish yellow with the darker markings reddish brown to dark brick brown (Dang 1992). The median band is prominet, especially along the inner edge. The subterminal triangle is similar and sometimes partially extends down towards the anal angle. The forewing is filled with fine dark lines that are prominent throughout the lighter parts of the wing. There is no costal fold. The hindwing has some faint strigulations at the extreme apex and is typically white in Nearctic specimens, though can also be much darker as is typical in Palearctic specimens. This species can easily be confused with several other Choristoneura species. The much more abundant C. rosaceana can be separated by the males having a small, pointy costal fold and the females being much larger with a at least partially orange hindwing. In males of C. fractivittana the strigulations of the forewing are less obvious, the hindwing is typically darker, and a small costal fold is present; while in females the forewing also has less obvious strigulations and there is often a hind of a basal patch present. Choristoneura zapulata typically has a slightly darker hindwing, but dissection is often necessary to separate it from C. albaniana.