[4] George Hudson discussed and illustrated this species in 1928 in his work The butterflies and moths of New Zealand.

The fore-wings of the male are rather broad, the costa strongly arched and the termen distinctly bowed outward and not oblique; dull reddish - brown to bright reddish - brown generally with very obscure blackish markings; there is a very faintly marked basal patch, an indistinct, irregular central band; an indefinite patch below the apex and an obscure discal spot; the outer portions of the wing are often thickly speckled with blackish grey.

[5] The female also might have forewings of warm brown with black discap and subapical spots or forewings again of warm brown but thickly speckled with black except on the area between the central band and apical patch.

[6] P. excessana are usually warmly-coloured and sometimes patterned in contrast to the more dull tones of the previously mentioned species.

[6] The diamond shaped white or cream patch in the forewing is present in some individuals of all Planotortrix species.

[10][11] In New Zealand this species is a major pest of apples, strawberries, stone fruits and walnuts.

[10] They feed on leaves, buds, and soft stems under a webbing of silk and foliage.

[13] P. excessana is also parasitised by Ancistrocerus gazella, a solitary wasp accidentally introduced to New Zealand.

[14] P. excessana has been intercepted at United States ports on vegetation sourced from New Zealand.