Wingspan about 15 mm. A fairly distinctive Tortrix species with its white ground colour and red-brown apical spot combined with blackish and metallic grey markings.

This species occurs mainly on calcareous soils.

The adult moths can be found on the wing in June and July, and flies from just before dusk.

The larvae feed on the berries of buckthorn, spinning berries together where a single purple berry amongst the green ones is a good sign that a larva is present.

Mainly found in the southern counties of England. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as Nationally Scarce B.

It appears to be uncommon in Leicestershire and Rutland, where there are few records. L&R Moth Group status = D (rare or rarely recorded).