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Colour grayish to a pale-yellowish brown. The juga are slightly longer than clypeus, as in Rhacognathus americanus Stal but not touching anteriorly. The rostrum does not reach the hind coxa and its third segment is longer than both the second and fourth segments. The 5th antennal segment is longer than the 3rd isolating it from Apateticus cynicus, another N.A. species in this genus. The margins of the pronotum are equipped with narrow projections, as in the morphologically similar genus Podisus Herrich-Schaeffer. The lateral portions of the abdomen are widely exposed and not covered by the hemelytra. These exposed regions have a distinct black, double-dash along the margin of each abdominal segment. The female genitalia has 3 basal plates, but the centre plate is triangular in shape. Adults are fairly large in comparison to the morphologically similar genus Podisus; length 13-17 mm (Blatchley 1926).

This species is univoltine, so only one generation is produced each season. This species overwinters in its egg stage (De Clercq 2000). These hatch in late spring, May-June, and mature into full adults by July. Adults will persist until September when mating occurs and eggs are deposited (McPherson 1982).

In North America, collections have been recorded from British Columbia to Prince Edward Island, Canada (Maw et al. 2000), and as far south as New Mexico, USA (Henry and Froeschner 1988). It is not known if this species is found outside of North America. Alberta collections in the Strickland Museum range from the province's south border, north to Hardisty, AB, but collections west of Rockyford, AB, do not exist.

Species of Apateticus Dallas are very similar to those in the genus Podisus Herrich-Schaeffer, and differ only in their larger size, longer jugae and three-plated genital plate in females. For this reason many authors prior to 1926 persisted in the use of Podisus as the generic name for species of both genera (Blatchley 1926).