Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center
Wingspan 3.5 cm. Forewing is falcate, pale to dark red with few markings; hindwing is pink-white; males with pectinate antennae. This noctuid is common and occurs in dry forests in the Pacific West. Moths fly in fall. Caterpillars feed on the foliage of manzanita (Arctostaphylos).
Similar species: Orthosia transparens and Orthosia pulchella forewing is gray, red or brown, often with a black median band, hindwing gray-black, moths fly in early spring, caterpillars feed on the foliage of manzanita; Mesogona rubra is larger, forewing more rounded, hindwing red, caterpillars feed on foliage of manzanita (Arctostaphylos).