- In the first, nominate form, the oblique band (crossband #3) at the tip of the wing is either not present or indistinct. The first crossband is dusky to black in color, darker near the costal margins. Crossband 2 is not present at all. There are relatively few red dots and flecks scattered across the wings.

- In form 'mediana' crossband #1 is a dark, dull red color (though in a number of individuals it appears as a faded brown). Crossband #2 is somewhat defined but not necessarily bold; it is orange to red in color. Crossband #3 is dusky to black in color. There are many dots scattered across the wings, including before crossband one and across the rest of the wing between crossband 1 and 2; there are also dots over the white costal plague.

- Form 'albata' is pale. Crossband #1 appears as a pale brown color; it is faint. There is no crossband #2, and crossband #3 ranges from smoky to a faded dusky color (but probably darker than the first band). This form was initially described as a form of H. trifasciata, which is probably the reason why this form has a strongly narrowed crossband #1 at the costal margin.

Adults are 3.1-3.4 mm long. Nymphs are a dark gray overall. For more pics of this species, see: BG. (Fairbairn, 1928)

H. balteata could be confused with H. trifasciata. Both species have a bold, dark crossband #3. However, there are several key differences that can be used to separate the two species.

- trifasciata tends to be on average smaller than other Hymettas; overall small size is an indication that an individual could be trifasciata.

- trifasciata tends to have relatively few reddish flecks and dots on the corium and sometimes the clavus [parts of the wings] compared to some balteata, though this is not always the case; the speckling also tends to be paler. The base of the wing, between the first crossband and the thorax, is typically unspotted with sometimes only several spots along the fissure (inside margin of the wings). Heavily spotted individuals that have spots across this base region of the wing are likely to be balteata.

- in trifasciata, the first crossband on the wing is strongly narrowed on the costal margin, enlarging further into the wing. In balteata, the crossband is at most slightly narrowed at the costal margin, often times not narrowed at all. Additionally, the overall shape of the band differs. In balteata, there tends to be a sharp triangular projection on the anterior margin of the band, lacking in trifasciata. Additionally, in trifasciata the band tends to be relatively straight or slightly downcurving towards the interior raised section of the band on the upper margins of the band, resulting in a stronger difference in 'height' between the two sections of this band.

- in trifasciata, crossband #2 is clearer and more defined, and therefore darker than in other species. There is a noticeable broken band on trifasciata which is lacking in balteata.

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H. balteata could also be confused with H. anthisma. The nominate form of balteata resembles form 'distincta' of H. anthisma, as both have a similar color pattern, especially with the lack of crossband #2 and relatively low reddish wing speckling. However, the best way to distinguish the two is by looking at crossband #1. In balteata, the posterior margin of crossband 1 projects toward the rear of the wings, noticeably extending past the black spot on the claval suture of each wing. In anthisma var. 'distincta', the posterior margin of the crossband extends essentially straight across the wing from the costal margin to the black dot; it does not project past the black spot.

- Form 'mediana' of balteata also resembles the nominate form of H. anthisma. In anthisma, crossband #1 is a brilliant red and crossband #3 is more smoky than black; in 'mediana' crossband #1 is a dark red to faded brown, and crossband #3 is dusky to black. Additionally, 'mediana' is supposed to have darker red dots than anthisma. However, anthisma has larger, brighter red, and more numerous spots; in some individuals, the speckling can be quite dense.

(Fairbairn, 1928)