Wingspan 12-16 mm. A small greyish brown moth. The main markings are at the rear of the wing.

Heathland and moorland, usually around Gorse or Broom.

The males fly in sunshine, but the females tend to be more crepuscular. The species is on the wing in May, with a second generation in the South from July to September.

The larvae feed internally in the seedpods of plants such as Gorse and Broom.

A fairly common species throughout the British Isles, though not well recorded. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.

Fairly frequent but not common in Leicestershire & Rutland. L&R Moth Group status = B (scarce resident or restricted distribution or regular migrant)