Male is yellow with dark tiger stripes. Hindwing of both female forms has many iridescent blue scales and an orange marginal spot. On the underside of forewing of both female forms the row of marginal spots has merged into a continuous band.
Females lay eggs singly on host leaves.
Caterpillars eat leaves and rest on silken mats in shelters of curled leaves. Eastern North America from Ontario south to Gulf coast, west to Colorado plains and central Texas. G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery. Opler, P. A. and G. O. Krizek. Butterflies east of the Great Plains.