Wingspan 12 to 16 mm.  The adult males are brownish-grey with several darker spots, and females are similar, though paler. Both sexes often show a sheen to the forewings.

There are similar species, and care must be taken with identification; dissection is often necessary for confirmation.

Found in dry grassy habitats.

Adults fly in June and July.

The early stages are poorly documented but the species occurs in dry grassy habitats and is suspected to feed on grasses or moss.

This species is distributed over much of the British Isles, though it tends to be commoner in the North. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as local.

Uncommon in Leicestershire and Rutland.