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The black and orange spots and bands of the wing upperside are more reminiscent of crescents (Phyciodes) than other checkerspots. The hindwing underside is unique among other Alberta checkerspots and crescents, consisting of a brown-grey ground colour with a median band composed of whitish arrow-shaped crescents.
D. Macaulay image
Subspecies carlota is credited to our fauna.

The life history in western Canada remains unknown. There are three larval colour forms in Colorado, varying from orange and white to yellow with black, or predominantly black (Scott 1986). The branched spines are always black. Eggs are laid in clusters on the underside of the hostplant leaves (Scott 1986). Larvae hibernate in early instars although some individuals from the first brood may continue development to form the second brood (Layberry et al. 1998). This species is very localized in Alberta, but can be common within colonies. Numbers can fluctuate dramatically from year to year (Pyle 2002).