The species is very similar to Perizoma affinitata in colour and pattern but often has a double indention in the inner margin of the band. It is also smaller. "Very similar to affinitata but smaller, with clearer and more regular white marks at the hindmargin of the forewing, tendency towards obsolescence of the pale band on the dark hindwing; distal area of forewing with black dushes on the veins. Generally less variable than affinitata. — peterseni notn. nov. has the white antemedian band well expressed; generally also the postmedian white band is somewhat widened and sometimes even a complete white subbasal is present. It is the prevailing form in Estonia and perhaps in Scandinavia and is commoner in Scotland than in England, but occurs as an aberration in many localities."[2][3]
The larva is short and powerful, with some short bristles. It is light green with two red longitudinal stripes along the back.
^Prout, L. B. 1912–16. Geometridae. In A. Seitz (ed.) The Macrolepidoptera of the World. The Palaearctic Geometridae, 4. 479 pp. Alfred Kernen, Stuttgart.
^Peder Skou, 1997 The Geometroid Moths of North Europe: Lepidoptera - Drepanidae and Geometridae (Entomonograph) Brill Archive ISBN978-90-04-07859-8