A crust forming, cracking, pale grey or grey green lichen. It gets its name from the reticulate pattern on the thallus that is supposed to resemble an ocellot's coat.

B. ocellata can be found with B. aethalea but usually has a browner appearance and a more marked reticulated pattern.

On natural siliceous rock.

All year round.

Widespread in Britain, particularly in the southern half.

Fairly frequent in Leicestershire and Rutland.