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A small (2.0-3.0 cm. wingspan) brown broad-winged moth. The forewings are crossed by thin, jagged black lines, and the reniform is marked by a conspicuous pale orange or yellow spot. The hingwings are almost as dark as the forewings in tone, and are crossed by a series of indistinct narrow lines. Darker specimens of Idia sp. nr. aemula can be very difficult to separate from aemula. The lack of significant contrast in shade between the hindwings and forewings in aemula will separate most specimens from Idia sp. nr. aemula.

Like the other species of Idia in Alberta, aemula can be collected at both lights and sugar baits. They are found in wooded areas, where the larvae feed on dead, decaying leaves on the woodland floor. There are also old reports of the larvae causing damage to corn fodder. Reports of aemula feeding on living coniferous needles (Prentice, 1962) refer to misidentified Idia sp. nr. aemula.

Throughout much of eastern North America, west to at least western Alberta. In Alberta, found from the wooded areas along the Milk River north to Lake Athabasca, and into the foothills and lower elevations of the mountains. Unlike Idia sp. nr. aemula, aemula occurs widely through the Aspen parkland and grasslands regions. Distribution records published prior to about 1990 may refer to either aemula and sp. nr. aemula in areas where there are conifers.