The October Thorn is one a several rather large geometrids that fly in the fall and have autumn-leaf colours of ochres and rust-brown. The discal spots are small and black but distinct; wings with a pointed protrusion at mid-margin. Similar to the extremely variable Prochoerodes transversata, but the PM line joins the wing margin in a straight line, while in transversata it angles sharply near the apex toward the thorax. S. pallulata, which occurs in the Crowsnest Pass region, is very similar, but has heavier crosslines and darker mottling. No structural differences between jubararia and pallulata are known.