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A medium-sized moth with a wingspan of 21-24 mm. The forewing ranges from ash gray to brownish yellow in color, has narrow, white, nearly straight antemedial and subterminal lines, and five dark dots outside of the subterminal line. The hindwing is dull white to pale brownish yellow, darkening somewhat toward the termen. Heinrich (1956) provides a description and genitalia illustrations. Neunzig (2003) provides illustrations. Packard (1873) described both this species and Lipographis leoninella, and placed them in the genus Pempelia. Hulst (1890) treated the latter as a variety of fenestrella feeling that it differed only in being more ocherous than gray. The Alberta material has the full color range.

Western North American. Neunzig (2003) has fenestrella from California, and leoninella from Cartwright, Manitoba, south to California and Utah. Not reported from Alberta by Bowman (1951). First reported for Alberta in Pohl et al (2005) based on material collected by C. Bird from Big Knife Provincial Park and the Lowden Springs Natural Area. It has since been found in Dry Island Provincial Park and at Tolman Bridge.