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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).

E. propulsata is closely related to the Palearctic E. populata L. Propulsata is one of the more common and widespread Eulithis species in both North America and Alberta. The specimen illustrated above is from Edmonton. The open circles on the map are literature reports (mainly from Prentice op. cit.) for which we have been unable to confirm the identifications.