Wingspan 18 to 22 mm. As its English name suggests, this is quite a greyish-brown moth. Specimens from the southern part of the British Isles are often darker than those from further north and Scotland, some of which have an almost whitish ground colour.

It can be found in a variety of habitats.

Flying during July and August from dusk onwards.

The larvae feed on a range of herbaceous plants.

Fairly frequent and widespread in Britain. 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).