The adult Corythucha gossypi is white and lacks the brown at the base of the elytra (wing-cases) had by some other species.

The crest on the hood measures less than one and a half times as high as the median carina (ridge on the body-wall), which distinguishes this species from C. morrilli, C. marmorata and C.

[2] Corythucha gossypii is found on the underside of the leaves of the host.

The more adults and nymphs that are present, the more badly affected the leaf is, and the earlier it is shed.

[2] The upper surface of the leaf is pale and looks bleached, while the underside, where the insects are feeding, is dotted with mounds of brown faecal matter.