It is a slender insect with two pairs of membranous wings with black veins, the fore-wings having a yellow leading edge.

It was recorded in South America for the first time in the 1980s, in Argentina and Chile where it caused severe defoliation of various species of willow (Salix).

[1] In both of these countries it spread rapidly, with the larvae feeding on species of willow, which are not native plants in Australia and New Zealand.

However, in Colombia it was found that larvae remain on the tree and form their cocoons there; these are green and easily overlooked among the foliage.

[6] Shifting from sexual to parthenogenetic reproduction is fairly common in invasive species and offers several advantages.