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.

[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).

The gray cocoon is felted, with hairs from the larvae, and overwinters (Wagner, 2005).

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