Wingspan 16 to 21 mm. The adults are similar to D. daucella but the larval stages are quite different.

Wet places, often near ditches and small streams.

The flight period is from August, overwintering and reappearing the following spring.

The main larval foodplant is Fool's Water-cress.

This species occurs locally in much of England, also occurring in Wales and southern Ireland. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as local.

The specimen taken 21 April 2011 is the first record for Leicestershire and Rutland. L&R Moth Group status = D (rare or rarely recorded).