The head and shield on the segment behind the head are red. There are two long black pencils of hairs on the first segment of the thorax that project forward. The back is mostly black and the sides yellow, cream, or grayish. There is an erect brushlike tuft of white or yellowish hairs on each of the first four abdominal segments, and a conspicuous red dot on segments six and seven. Moths emerge in about two weeks.
Antennae are conspicuously plumose.
Eggs hatch to begin a new generation. Occurrence and Damage the whitemarked tussock moth caterpillar is commonly found in Alabama feeding singly on foliage of small scattered shade, ornamental, or orchard-type trees. Historically, populations have been low and damage correspondingly minor. However, the species has the potential to occur in sufficient numbers to reduce the aesthetic value of ornamental trees.