This species has a long and tapering forewing, sometimes slightly hooked, with the leading edge strongly curved to the tip.

The ground-colour is reddish to sandy-brown and the wings are peppered, sometimes heavily, with dark scales. The third cross-line is usually kinked near the leading edge.

There are two distinct forms of this species, roughly equal in numbers. One has a dark band across all four wings, whereas the plain f. remutata, only has narrow cross-lines.

Pupates in plant debris near or on the ground.