Upperside is brownish black with an orange patch at the forewing apex. White median band across both wings is broken on the forewing. Males perch and patrol all day for receptive females.
Young caterpillars make a long perch by extending a leaf vein with dung and silk.
Partially-grown caterpillars hibernate. Two flights from May-September. Oak-covered hills, groves, and stream valleys. Southern Oregon east to Colorado, south to southern California, Arizona, South Texas, and Mexico. Photographs and text copyright by and adapted from US Geological Survey's Butterflies of North America.