These moths are popular with butterfly collectors because of their variable coloration and wing patterns and their unusual lifestyle, which is an adaptation to the hot and dry habitats where most species live.

The moths can be softly or brightly colored, in shades of gray, brown, white, black, yellow and red, and are very variable in appearance even within a species.

The projections (scoli) on the back of the abdomen may consist of short tufts or groups of spines that do not have a central shaft.

This distinguishes them from the caterpillars of the closely related genus Automeris .The scoli are hollow tubes with sharp, brittle tips, each located above a venom gland comparable to a bee sting.

The moths are found from southern Canada, across the western and southwestern United States, including the Great Basin, to Mexico .

Species with yellow and black ringed abdomens also pulsate this part of their body, creating a resemblance to defensive wasps ( Müllerian mimicry ).

The species of the eglanterina group have a two-year life cycle in the high mountain habitats they inhabit with only a short growing season.

The most important food plants of the caterpillars are members of the rose (Rosaceae), buckthorn (Rhamnaceae), willow (Salicaceae), daisy (Asteraceae), honeysuckle (Caprifoliaceae), sumac (Anacardiaceae), legume (Fabaceae), grass (Poaceae) and knotweed (Polygonaceae) families, Each type of caterpillar eats a different plant.

Females of all species lay their eggs in ring-shaped clusters around a branch or flower stalk of the food plant.

Dark coloring allows them to absorb solar radiation efficiently, and the resulting increase in body temperature accelerates physiological development, particularly at higher altitudes.

This behavior protects the caterpillar from larger predators, but, when repeated by the adult, only increases the moth's vulnerability to birds or rodents.

The previous (German) version of this article cited the Global Lepidoptera Names Index, which listed 27 species, and which is no longer published online.

The Finnish University and Research Network, whose index page traces some of these differences in taxonomic classification, currently lists 32 species.

Based on DNA studies, Tuskes and Collins [4] defined the species groups tricolor, maia, electra, burnsi, chinatiensis and eglanterina , which are intended to better reflect the phylogenetic relationship.