It is less common farther west from the Mississippi River. The wingspread range is 4.1 to 5.6 cm. The upper surface of the fore wings is black with a narrow marginal row and a broader submarginal row of light yellow row spots. The upper surfaces of the hind wings also have the rows of spots, but they are light green in color. The median areas of the hind wings are dusted with blue in females and blue-green to green in males.
Young larvae are bird-dropping mimics.
Last instar larvae are green with a pale yellow lateral line edged beneath with a fine black line. The underside of the larva is pinkish-brown. One dot on each side is beneath the lateral line. There is a pair of large tan false eyespots lined with black on the rear of the thorax. Larvae also have a smaller pair of tan spots at the front of the abdomen.