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A medium-size dull grey-brown moth (approx. 4.2cm wingspan). Forewing markings are dull and poorly defined, and consist of the traces of the normal lines and spots. The hindwings are lighter grey-brown and unmarked. With experience Pronoctua species are relatively easy to recognize by the silky "sheen" of their otherwise drab grey-brown forewings. This unusual silky appearance is shared with the two Alberta species of Protoperigea, which lack the median band that is usually the most prominent marking in P. typica. Pronoctua peabodyae is smaller, darker and more strongly marked. The genitalia of P. typica (illustrated in Lafontaine, 1998) and in particular the valves of the male (illustrated below) are abundantly different from those of other Pronoctua and Protoperigea species.

A western mountain species, found from extreme southwestern Alberta (Waterton) west to south central BC, south to southern California and Arizona and east to New Mexico and Colorado. In Alberta it has been collected only in Waterton Lakes National Park, in low to mid elevation (1300-1500m) open dry woodland and grasslands.

Pronoctua typica is one of the truly drab Alberta noctuid moths. It was added to the Alberta fauna in early September 2005 when Chris Schmidt, Jim Troubridge and I collected the first two specimens in Waterton. These dull, rubbed-looking specimens were initially thrown aside, and it was not until the more interesting and exciting moths had been processed that I dissected one in order to get a name so it could be included in the required list of species collected. Chris and I found them to be common in the same areas in mid August 2006, when we collected at least a dozen more. Genetic "barcoding" of two Waterton specimens shows them to be very well separated from 4 specimens of Alberta P. peabodyae, with over 6% difference in the sequences of the two species.