The wingspan is 32–41 mm. Adults are on wing year round in the southern part of the range and in late summer and fall as vagrant.
The larvae feed on Fabaceae species, including Stylosanthes biflora and Aeschynomene species. Adults feed on the nectar of various flowers including joint vetches and shepherd's needle, and are the principal pollinators of Cnidoscolus urens.
Subspecies
E. d. daira (Virginia, New York, Virginia, Louisiana, Georgia, Florida)
E. d. palmira (Poey, [1852]) (West Indies, Cuba, Bahamas)
E. d. eugenia (Wallengren, 1860) (Mexico, Panama, Costa Rica, Guatemala)
E. d. sidonia (R. Felder, 1869) (Mexico)
E. d. lydia (C. Felder & R. Felder, 1861) (Venezuela, Colombia)