Wingspan 28 to 33 mm. This is a very distinctively marked species although the brown may vary in shade from red brown to a more chocolate colour.

A woodland species.

There is one generation, with the adults flying in May and June.

The larvae feed on a variety of deciduous trees, such as oak, birch and willow.

This moth occurs over a large part of the British Isles, but is not common anywhere. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as local.

Occasional and very local in Leicestershire and Rutland where it has only been found in the Ulverscroft valley. L&R Moth Group status = C (very scarce resident or rare migrant).