Wingspan 13 to 16 mm. One of the larger species in its group. The dark-bordered orange spot at the end of the forewing is diagnostic.

Around Blackthorn, the larval foodplant.

Flying in May and June, the adults are sometimes attracted to light.

Blackthorn is the foodplant, the small larvae leaf-mining at first and then later living externally in a silken web.

Distributed throughout most of Britain. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.

Occasional in Leicestershire and Rutland. L&R Moth Group status = C (very scarce resident or rare migrant).