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Adult

Jutta Arctics are dark grey brown above, and the ventral hindwings are striated with grey and brown, closely resembling bark. Near the margin of the dorsal forewings and hindwings is a row of orange brown patches, some of which contain eyespots. Males have a prominent dark sex patch on the dorsal forewing, and the orange patches are enlarged in females.

Immature Stages

In Quebec eggs are cream white, with 16-21 zigzag vertical ridges and with a small stalk at the base. The bodies of first instar larvae are pale amber to grey white with a pink tinge; there are two tails and brown tubercles with light spines. The dorsal, subdorsal, and lateral stripes are yellow brown; the spiracular line is pale brown; and the basal ridge is dull white with a pale brown line below. The head, underside, legs, and prolegs are yellow green. Mature larvae are green buff, with two short subconical tails. The dorsal stripe is pale green, with blackish dots between segments; the lateral band is broad and pale green with a blackened upper edge; the basal ridge is yellowish; and the underside, legs, and prolegs are green buff. The head is green. The pupal head is amber, with a brown dash on either side. The wings are green with a brown outline and streaks. The abdomen is pale yellowish green, with a line of darker green down the back, and numerous rows of brown dots. There is a rosy tip to the abdomen (Fyles 1888; Edwards 1887-97).

Subspecies

Subspecies reducta McDunnough, 1929 (TL: upper Gallatin Canyon, MT) occurs in southern BC from the Rockies west to near Prince George. The dorsal yellow brown submarginal patches are small and somewhat separated from each other. The ventral hindwing has a well-defined dark band across the middle, with pale highlighting along both the outer and inner edge of the band. Subspecies chermocki Wyatt, 1965 (TL: near Banff, AB) is a synonym of reducta. Subspecies ridingiana F. & R. Chermock, 1940 (TL: Riding Mountains, MB) occurs from the Peace River lowlands west across most of northern BC. The dorsal yellow brown submarginal patches are large and form a continuous band broken only by brown veins in females. The ventral hindwing is a mottled grey brown, with only a weakly defined dark band across the middle. Subspecies alaskensis Holland, 1900 (TL: mountains between Fortymile and Mission Creeks, AK, and American Creek, AK) occurs in northwestern BC. The dorsal and ventral wings are a darker brown. The dorsal yellow orange submarginal patches are small and well separated, sometimes diffused and indistinct and sometimes sharply defined. The ventral hindwing is a strongly mottled grey brown; a dark band across the middle is generally without white highlighting on the basal side.