Photo by Drees. Females are white to gray and do not have fully-developed wings. Several other species of tussock moths occur and, when in high numbers, may damage ornamental host plants. Caterpillars pupate within grayish cocoons made of silk and larvae hairs on the trunk, branches of the host plant or on nearby objects. Adults emerge in about 2 weeks and mate.
Females lay masses of eggs on the surface of old cocoons.
There are three generations per year. Caterpillars have chewing mouthparts. Adults have siphoning mouths. The subspecies in the south feeds on live oak, redbud, pyracantha and mimosa. Young larvae skeletonize leaves while older larvae eat all of the leaf surface except for the larger veins.