Their forewings are light grey on the front edge, the inner portion of the wing is cinnamon-brown.

Seitz- Basal half of forewing light yellowish brown, the central costal area white-grey in between at dark transverse line and the large arcuate black discal spot, beyond the discal spot a broad dark cloud distally bounded by a pale dentate line; in the marginal area a slightly undulate dark submarginal line (distally pale-edged and curving basad below costal margin in the shape of a black longitudinal stripe; marginal line and hind margin black.

— A pale form with the ground colour of the forewing ochreous instead of brown has been obtained in Central Asia: pallida subsp.

Larva pale red to violet, with a strong tubercle on abdominal segments 2 and 3 and a dark dorsal line commencing at the head as in N. dromedaria; both the tubercle and the dorsal stripe are edged with white; dark specimens moreover, have white spots and oblique stripes on the back, as well as a white sideline on a level with the spiracles, the line being especially distinct on the thorax; head narrow and high,rather deeply incised at the vertex.

The larvae feed on poplar, primarily aspen (Populus tremula) and willow.