Wingspan 23-28 mm. The diagnostic zigzag lines and bands of dark and pale colour make this species easy to identify.

Woodland and hedgerows containing Ash.

The adults are on the wing in July and August and are attracted to light after dark.

The larvae burrow into the bark of Ash trees and can eventually kill the tree if present in numbers.

Occurring mainly in the southern half of Britain where it can be frequent. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.

Fairly common in Leicestershire and Rutland. L&R Moth Group status = A (common and resident)