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A small (approx. 1.5-2.0 cm wingspan) grey and rust-red geometrid. The overall color and pattern is fairly variable, but in most specimens the basal area is light grey-brown or rusty red, the median area is darker brick or purple red, and the outer third is lighter rusty red. The wings are crossed by variably expressed dark jagged or erratic median, postmedian and subterminal lines, the latter in particular frequently reduced to a series of spots or streaks. The hindwings are paler red brown with less developed dark cross lines. Sexes are similar except male antennae bipectinate, female simple. The small size and dark brick red banded pattern will separate Leptostales from all other Alberta geometrids

According to Handfield (1999) ferruminaria is diurnal, although all Alberta specimens have been collected at lights. There appears to be a single annual brood, with adults in spring, from late May through mid June. The larval host or hosts are unknown.

Across Canada from southern Quebec to the mountains, south in the east to Florida. As of this writing, it has been collected at three locations in eastern central Alberta; the Red Deer river valley at Dry Island Provincial Park and north of Jenner, and in the Battle River valley at Big Knife Provincial Park.

Leptostales is a small genus of about 8-10 North and Central American species. According to the Moths of Canada website, ferruminaria occurs west to Alberta, and is replaced in BC by the closely related L. rubromarginaria (Pack.). Covell (1984) treats ferriminariaas a synonym of rubromarginaria. If these are one species, L. rubromarginaria (Dark-ribboned Wave) is the older of the two names.