Upperside of head and thorax is yellow-orange.
Females lay eggs singly on leaves of the host plants.
Caterpillars feed on leaves and make shelters of rolled or tied leaves. Third-stage caterpillars hibernate, emerge in the spring to complete their development, and pupate in silken tubes at the base of the plants. Nectar from white, pink, or purple flowers including common milkweed, purple vetch, selfheal, peppermint, dogbane, New Jersey tea, and viper's bugloss. Wet areas near deciduous woods such as meadows, seeps, swamp edges, and streams. Separate populations in the high plains and Rocky Mountains, and on the Pacific Coast.