Wingspan about13 mm.

A heathland species.

Flying in July and August, the adults are on the wing from the afternoon onwards but can be quite elusive.

The larva feeds in June and July on heather (Calluna) forming a silken tube among the leaves.

Occurring throughout much of England and Wales in suitable habitat, and patchily distributed in Scotland and Ireland. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as local.

Rare in Leicestershire and Rutland. The specimen captured at Newfield Colliery on 30/07/2014 was the first record of this species in VC55. L&R Moth Group status = D (rare or rarely recorded).