General Description

A rather small moth (wingspans 2.4-3.0 cm). Forewing pale olive brown, mostly overlaid with a blackish olive brown scales. Basal area and a thick rounded basal streak dark reddish black. The orbicular and reniform large and prominent against the paler ground, frequently fused. A broad olive-black terminal band, with the subterminal and terminal areas separated by a thin, faint stripe. The hindwing is creamy white, with a large black discal mark and some dark scaling along the inner margin and basal areas, and a wide black terminal band with a small, indistinct pale patch near the anal angle. Superficially very similar to H. ononis, but darker and less contrasting. H. ononis also lacks the large dark orbicular spot present in oregonica. H. phloxiphaga is larger and much paler yellow-tan.