Wings are black or blackish brown. Upperside of male forewing has a large transparent white spot below the end of the black stigma and several other spots above and below it.
Female forewing has a transparent square spot at the end of the cell.
Underside of both sexes is black, sometimes with a purple sheen, and often has a few distinct pale spots. Caterpillars eat leaves and live in shelters of rolled or tied leaves. Nectar from white, pink, and purple flowers is preferred, including dogbane, selfheal, peppermint, joe-pye weed, and common and swamp milkweeds. Yellow flowers are visited when others are unavailable. Moist places near shaded wood edges.