[4] O. n. nevadensis is bright orange brown on the upper side of the wings.

[3] Males have a large, dark patch of sex scales on the forewing, extending from the basal area to near the apex.

[2][3] The great Arctic is found almost exclusively in the Cascade Mountains, from southern British Columbia to northern California.

Habitats include forest clearings, open pinewoods, gravel roads, meadows, slopes, and canyons.

[3] The great Arctic is seen from early May to late September, but only every two years (mostly even numbered) due to its long life cycle.

[5] The host plant for the great Arctic is unknown, but is believed to be in the family Poaceae.