Female is larger than male, with more and brighter markings. Underside of hindwing is a slightly greenish brown, with large jagged white spots. Basal spot on submarginal row is displaced inwardly. To await females, males perch in gulches all day. Females deposit eggs singly on or near the host plant.
Caterpillars eat leaves and make nests of silked-together leaves.
Probably caterpillars hibernate. Nectar from flowers including rabbitbrush. Sagebrush, chaparral, hilly grasslands, open woodland. G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery. Scott, J. A. 1986.