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A medium sized crambid (13-24 mm wingspan). Forewing varying from yellowish brown to rich brown; median and subterminal lines weak; subterminal line angled inwards near the top; terminal line very indistinct, sometimes consisting of only a row of 3-5 dark dots; apex slightly produced. Hind wing smoky brown (fuscous). Referred to as Crambus luteolellus Clem. in Hodges (1983) but placed in the genus Neodactria, along with C. caliginosella and C. zeella by Landry (1995). The latter two entities appear to fall within the range of variation of luteolella, caliginosella having darker and zeella lighter forewings. Specimens of the latter two entities in the Strickland Museum appear to be luteolella. Somewhat similar to Pediasia ericella but the latter is larger (wingspan 25-30 mm). Also somewhat similar to Occidentalia comptulatalis but the forewing of the latter has a rounded apex.

A North American species. Fernald (1896) reported it from Ontario, Maine, New York, North Carolina, Illinois, Missouri, Colorado, Arizona and California. Also known from South Dakota (McDaniel (1984), Michigan (1996) and Quebec and Labrador (Handfield 1997). In Alberta, Bowman (1951) reported it from the Edmonton area. It, however, is widespread in the prairies and aspen parkland and even in the boreal forest.