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A small (2.5-2.7 cm wingspan) delicate moth. The normal form is a red-brown and/or olive-brown and white moth. The forewing has a large, dark diamond-shaped basal patch, and a similarly colored triangular patch on the costa near the apex and with an oblong patch below that, between the postmedial and subterminal lines. The median and terminal areas are paler brown, separated from the dark areas by white scales. The reniform is a large, blurry grey patch. The hindwing is white, with a broad pale brown terminal band and a large dark discal mark. The forwing fringe is checkered. Both sexes are similar, but the female is a bit darker. Some specimens are almost immaculate creamy white, with only a few dark scales where the normal pattern would be. Both forms have been collected at Dinosaur Provicial Park.

Adults are nocturnal and come to light. They are closely associated with the host plant, and are on the wing in late summer when the sagebrush is in blossom. Like other members of the family, the eggs are laid in the flower buds and the larvae feed on the bud, flower and developing seeds.