Acarospora strigata is an areolate to verruculous crustose lichen that grows on rock around the world, in full sun or shade, and in mesic to arid habitats.

[1]: 220 [2] It is brown but may appear white or pale gray if it is covered in a pruina.

[1]: 220  The lichen is common in southwestern deserts of North America.

[2] Areoles (from tiny to 3 mm) surrounding dark reddish-brown to black apothecia (fruiting bodies) are both highly variable in shape and size, and variable in size relative to each other.

[1]: 220 [3] They can be pointlike to round, polygonal to stellate radiating fissures, and one to many per areole.