The tussock caterpillars can be recognized by their bright colours and assorted tufts of hair. They have orange head, tuffs on the back, and red dots on the hind abdominal segments that are in line with a dorsal black stripe. Two long tufts of black hair stand up near the head, and four white, grey or yellow brush-shaped tufts of hair can be seen on the back. At the tip of the abdomen is a long, dark hair pencil. The caterpillars are up to 3.5 cm long.