Acraea issoria has an elongated forewing and a rounded hindwing, a yellow base color with a black apical area and terminal border, veins along the rib margins and a series of brown spots. The hindwing has a subterminal zigzag line and a black terminal stripe. The underside of the wings is paler, in females the wings are paler with a similar black mark but wider.
Larva: larvae of Acraea issoria are black with long setae in each segment of their body.
Pupa: Acraea issoria pupae are white with black ribbons and large orange spots on their back.