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Upperside brown with a row black submarginal eyesspots set in rust-orange patches. Underside similar, but the hindwing has a broad, lightly contrasting median band bordered by a lighter grey-brown area. Females have a lighter underside and generally more eyespots. E. mancinus is similar, but lacks all hindwing eyespots, and has a white spot on the ventral hindwing. D. Macaulay image
This species was described from specimens collected at Rock Lake near Jasper (Kondla 1996). Subspecies sineocellata is found throughout the boreal and parkland region, the nominate subspecies occupying the mountain region. Subspecies are weakly differentiated and grade into one another (Bird et al. 1995).

The eggs are laid on various substrates near the food plant. Larvae have two short 'tails', and are yellowish-green with a dark dorsal line and yellowish subdorsal and lateral lines. Third and fourth instar larvae hibernate (Scott 1986). Adults have a weak, floppy flight and males patrol meadows in search of females.