The color of the fruiting bodies themselves or the mycelial mat covering the host surface can be yellow, white, olive, yellowish brown, pink, or red.

The spores are generally somewhat angular and ellipsoid, and in many species are separated by a single septum, usually colorless to pale yellow, with thick cell walls and wart-like or bump-like patterns on the surface.

In addition to afflicting terrestrial mushrooms of the genera Amanita, Russula, Lactarius, Lactifluus, Suillus, Xerocomus, and Boletus, other fungi that form hard, cork-like fruiting bodies on trees, such as [[Trametes]] and Stereum, can also serve as hosts.

Auricularia auricula-judae that produce colloidal fruiting bodies, and Pezizaceae belonging to the ascomycote fungi (e.g., Helvella, Humaria, and Leotia) are also known to serve as hosts.

When infected by Hypomyces, the cap, or pileus of Amanita mushrooms do not develop properly, instead becoming deformed and stunted, often resembling human male genitalia.

In the genera Xerocomus, and Boletus, the development of the mushroom cap is often suppressed and the tubular pores formed on the underside of the host's lamellae are also filled with mycelium of Hypomyces.

Hypomyces lactifluorum, whose main hosts are Russula and Lactifluus, is commonly called lobster mushroom in North America and United Kingdom.