Wingspan 23 to 27 mm. Superficially similar to P. pallidactyla, this species has the hind leg banded brown and white below the middle spurs, and is often more distinctly marked on the forewing.

Various habitats, especially where the larval foodplant is found.

Flies in July.

The larvae feed on Tansy, mining down a shoot, hibernating through the winter in the roots and burrowing up another shoot in the spring.

It occurs over much of England and Wales. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as Nationally Scarce B.

It appears to be uncommon in Leicestershire and Rutland, where there are few records. L&R Moth Group status = D (rare or rarely recorded).