In North America it ranges across the northern tier of the United States plus every province and territory of Canada.

The forewings vary from grey to black, marked with white fascia, giving a striped appearance.

The central fascia varies in width; it is often contracted below the middle, sometimes completely severed at this point, and in ab.

degenerata, Haworth, both portions are much reduced in width.There are brownish-grey examples from the Isle of Lewis;these are var.

There are intermediate modifications leading up to a form in which the whole of the central third of the fore wings is whitish, with the usual cross lines dingy grey, and some tiny clouds of the same colour around the black discal spot.