[1] Bicellariella ciliata is a colonial bryozoan and has an upright, branched habit, and forms small white, feathery clumps up to 2.5 cm (1 in) in height.

The zooids grow on branches, facing alternately to left and right, and appearing as regular black spots to the naked eye.

Each feeding zooid has a cone-shaped tube leading to a bean-shaped chamber; the lophophore has four to six long curved tentacles.

[2] Like other bryozoans, Bicellariella ciliata is a filter feeder, consuming diatoms and other small organic particles which it catches with the ever-active tentacles of its lophophore.

Colonies have both male and female zooids; reproduction mainly takes place in late March and April, giving rise to planktonic larvae in May and June.