Adult lygus are about 5 mm long and 2.5 mm wide. Legs and antennae are relatively long. Eggs are slightly curved and approximately 1 mm long. Young nymphs are blue-green in colour, and look like aphids but are more active. Colour in the older nymphs becomes more variable and is similar to that of the adults.
Nymphs develop prominent black dots on the top of the thorax and abdomen.
There are five nymphal instars. A cuneus is present and 1 or 2 cells are present at the base of the membrane. Pale greenish-yellow in colour, they are tinged with brown. The nymphs are pale green to light brown, dotted with short, black hairs. Although they resemble the adults, they have wing pads rather than complete wings.