Wingspan about 12mm. An attractive species, sporting metallic leaden blotches against a bright orange ground colour.

Where Lime trees are present.

There is an extended emergence period for the adults, being on the wing from May to September.

The larvae feed under the bark of Lime trees, and are difficult to locate except for the existence of brownish frass on the surface.

This moth has a predominantly south-eastern distribution in England, but does extend into Yorkshire and South Wales. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as Nationally Scarce B.

Rare in Leicestershire and Rutland. The Knighton record of 23rd July 2018 was the first for VC55 although a second specimen was recorded in Evington the following day!