The Small Heterocampa has a wingspan of about 1 to 1.5 inches. The forewing is variable brown or gray, often with a greenish tint. There is a thin, black reniform crescent. There is a double brown zigzag on the lower Am and Pm lines. The subterminal line is a white zigzag. The hindwing is cream or light gray. The larva is lime green with dark green dots over the body. The white dorsal line splits into 2 lines at the 6th abdominal segment. The head is pale green with rows of dark brown spots.
The frequency of occurrence at Fontenelle Forest and Neale Woods is not known. It has been photographed in Fontenelle Forest in late May. The adult moths are attracted to artificial lights.
The larval food plants are hackberry, maple and birch. There are 21 species in the Heterocampa genus north of Mexico and this moth is the smallest.
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