Males and females differ.
Females are larger than males.
Upperside of male is orange to light brown with a weak eyespot on each wing and a partial black submarginal band on the hindwing. Both sexes have a white band on the forewing running from the eyespot to the trailing edge of the wing, although this band may be weak in the male. Females do not fly until they have mated. After dark, females lay eggs in small groups on twigs of the host plant. Eggs overwinter and hatch in April.