This species of butterfly appears in the garden early in the spring and again late in the summer. In the late summer clover, phlox, and ironweed are often frequented. In the spring dame's rocket and clover are favored. Males of this species can often be seen perching on blackberry leaves in shaded areas. They are easily disturbed, but if one is patient they return to the same spot. When perched they spread the hindwings horizontally and the forewings are held at an angle.

The females are always darker in color than the males. The female is most easily identified by the white margin near the apex of the hind wing. This white margin is also visible from the dorsal view as are three large white patches on the forewing. In the male the large orange patch with a finger-like projection near the apex on the hindwing and the enclosed orange area near the apex of the forewing help in identification. In males with folded wings the base is brown, enclosing a yellow patch and several brown spots are found in the large yellow area. This species is most often confused with the Hobomok Skipper, which is seen only in the Spring.