[2] Stericta carbonalis is a moth with a dark brown or grey pattern on its forewings,[3] the hindwings are lighter with a white colour that darkens towards the edges.

the adults of this species have dark coloured wings that blend in with the burnt bark of the eucalypt trees.

[4] The adults of this species has a curved or 'snub-nosed' head which is common for grass moths.

The distribution of this species ranges from Cairns, Queensland, Victoria,[4] New South Wales, and Tasmania.

[4] The adult is a grass moth that visits flowers and has a nocturnal circadian rhythm[7]