[1] It is native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, where it lives on hills and ridges in rocky desert habitat.

The wings are yellow with an orange patch toward the front of the forewing outlined in black and white.

The conical eggs are blue green when fresh, then turn orange.

During early stages the caterpillar is green with a purple stripe outlined in white.

[2] They have been noted on lyreleaf jewelflower (Streptanthus carinatus), London rocket (Sisymbrium irio), western tansymustard (Descurainia pinnata), sand fringepod (Thysanocarpus curvipes), and California mustard (Streptanthus lasiophyllus).