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One of the two yellow-brown Eulithis regularly encountered in AB, propulsata is a medium-size broad-winged brownish yellow moth with slightly falcate forewings. The forewings are crossed be a series of parallel bent thin brown lines. The space between the antemedian and postmedian lines is slightly darker on the upper half, and contains a number of faint circles and loops. The hindwings are paler yellow buff. Sexes similar, antennae simple. Most similar to E. testata, which is darker orange and has a darker and more contrasting pattern, and a narrow white border on the postmedian line and apical dash. The very rare E. gracilineata is lighter yellow than propulsata, and has the postmedian line dragged out sharply in a single point almost to the outer margin of the forewing. The larva is described and illustrated by Wagner et al, 2001. Choi (2001:16) illustrates the male genitalia.

Adults are nocturnal and come to light. There is a single annual brood in Alberta, with adults from late June through August, peaking in late July-early August. Reported larval hosts include Ribes, Populus, Salix and Vaccinium (Jones 1951; Handfield, 1999; Miller & Hammond, 2000; Kimber 2005). However, FIDS host data for Alberta is almost exclusively gooseberry and current (Ribes sp.) (Prentice, 1963).