Wingspan 14-18 mm. The males have long, whitish antennae, the females shorter with both sexes having bronzy or metallic greenish forewings.

Open areas such as heath, moorland, country gardens, parks and wherever the larval food plants are to be found.

The moths fly in the daytime during May and June, sometimes occurring in swarms, and often around the tops of trees and bushes.

The caterpillar lives in a portable case and feeds on leaf-litter of Oak and Birch.

A fairly common species in England, Wales and southern Scotland, more local in Ireland. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.

Fairly common in Leicestershire and Rutland. L&R Moth Group status = A (common and resident)