Males usually have black antennal knobs.
Underside of hindwing has a dark marginal patch containing a light-colored crescent. Eggs are laid in small batches on underside of host plant leaves. Caterpillars eat leaves and are gregarious when young. Hibernation is by third-stage caterpillars. Nectar from a great variety of flowers including dogbane, swamp milkweed, shepherd's needle, asters, and winter cress.