It is native to North America, where it is distributed from the Atlantic Ocean to the Rocky Mountains in Canada and the United States.

The adult moth is nocturnal, active mainly during the early hours of the night.

[3] The caterpillar feeds on alder (Alnus), hickory (Carya), hazelnut (Corylus), beech (Fagus), walnut (Juglans), and hop-hornbeam (Ostrya) species.

When attacked by a bird, the caterpillar produces a high-pitched whistle by expelling air from pairs of spiracles in its abdomen.

This antipredator adaptation may startle the bird, which may then reject the caterpillar.