It is a common mid- through late summer feeder on milkweeds and dogbane.

Like most species in this family, it has chemical defenses it acquires from its host plants, in this case, cardiac glycosides.

[2] Adults indicate their unpalatability to bats with ultrasonic clicks from their tymbal organs.

[3] It is found from southern Canada and south through Texas and Florida in North America.

Later instars sport tufts of black, white and orange (sometimes yellow) setae (hairs).

[4] Dogbanes and milkweeds produce a sticky latex that can impede larval feeding.