Similar to Xylophanes maculator. Upperside: As Xylophanes maculator but dorsal lines of tegulae, thorax and abdomen considerably fainter, giving the moth a less striped appearance and making the small subdorsal spots on the posterior margins of the abdominal tergites more conspicuous. Forewing upperside as in Xylophanes maculator but: ground colour more greenish, particularly basal to the postmedial lines; first postmedial line more basal in position, dentate over its distal half, especially between M1 and M2. Medial band of hindwing upperside as in Xylophanes maculator but broader, with an even inner edge and lacking the pink shading. Male FWL: 29-35 mm; female FWL: 32-38 mm.
Male genitalia: Similar to Xylophanes maculator but: Gnathos broader and more apically rounded. Saccus broader and more rounded. Harpe in lateral view more elongate and evenly curved (that of Xylophanes maculator tapers more abruptly); in dorsal view the harpe is slightly spatulate (not in Xylophanes maculator). Phallus apical process with a slightly raised band with a single row of teeth on the left and the right abruptly produced into a short, multidentate process. Vesica initially directed posteriorly, parallel to the longitudinal axis of the phallus; at the point where the vesica of Xylophanes maculator turns downward, in Xylophanes lichyi it is produced into a clockwise spiral of half a turn, curving first up and then to the right, and finally ventrally.
Kitching & Cadiou (2000) (STI 18788) reported a specimen fro "Rio de Janeiro" but consider the locality to be doubtful; it is not mapped here.