The female moth lays egg masses in July and August in clusters of 100 to 1,000. While most eggs are laid on the bark of trees, females will also lay clusters in any sheltered location, including homes, vehicles, firewood, playground equipment, and stones. Egg masses are beige and about the size of a quarter. The caterpillar stage lasts for 10 to 12 weeks. Caterpillars are 1 to 2 inches long when full grown, with hairlike structures along the entire length of their body.
Caterpillars are grayish with five pairs of blue spots and six pairs of red spots along their back.
There are yellow markings on the head. Pupae are reddish-brown. Male moths have a wingspread of 1 inches. They are light tan to dark brown and have blackish wavy bands across their forewings with arrowhead markings near the leading edge. Female moths are nearly white with faint, dark wavy bands on the forewings.