Abdomen is mostly red and the upperside of wings is pearly white. Forewing has black zigzag submarginal and submedian lines, and a crescent-shaped cell spot. The submedian line may have a small oval spot bisecting it. Hindwing has a pale submarginal line and a small spot. Females lay eggs in rings around host plant stems, and the eggs overwinter and hatch in April.
Young caterpillars feed gregariously while older ones feed alone.
Older caterpillars hide during the day at the base of the plant and feed at night. Cocoons are spun in plant debris or in loose soil. One brood from August-October. Southeastern California, southern Nevada, northern Arizona, southwestern and eastern Utah, and western Colorado. G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.