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This species is slightly smaller than the similar A. dissitana and has dirtier looking markings. The forewing is light grey speckled or reticulated with darker grey and with dark grey full or partial bands in the basal, median, postmedian and subterminal areas. The hindwings are dark grey with a white costal margin. This species can be separated from the very rarely collected Archepandemis coniferana by the pattern of pale markings on the forewing. In A. coniferana, the middle pale costal spot is roughly continuous with the white band that extends down towards the anal angle, while in A. packardiana, these two markings are clearly disjunctive from each other. The larva is green with short fine setae throughout. The head is darker greenish with darker black lines and the thoracic shield is green, variably blackish brown anterioirly.

The first instar larva mines needles and overwinters there. In the spring it continues to mine needles and in later instars it feeds externally on needles, spinning abundant silk . Pupation is done amongst the webbed needles. Adults frequnt lights and females oviposit on the foliage. (Duncan 2006)