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The forewing is bright orange with abundant fine yellow reticulation throughout. In females there is variably expressed thin slanted bands lacking reticulation in the antemedian, postmedian, and apical corner, in males these markings are dark purple. The hindwing is white to light orange in the femal and dark greyish in the male. In the similar Sparganothis reticulatana the forewing is yellow with variable orange reticulation and there is a thin perpendicular line partially or completely connecting the antemedian and postmedian lines. As the common name suggests, the larva is completely green except for a small black spot amongst the eyes and is closely similar to A. velutinana. (Chapman & Lienk 1971)

Eggs are laid on the upper surfaces of leaves in dull greyish yellow masses of about 50 eggs each. Larvae hibernate in a hibernaculum in the thrid instar and resume feeding on the buds in early spring. Later instars produce copious webbing on terminal shoots and rarely stray from it. Pupation occurs on the shelter and lasts up to two weeks. (Chapman & Lienk 1971)