Wingspan 32 to 38 mm. The ground colour is a uniform rich pale or dark reddish brown or purplish brown. The markings are often quite pale.

Occupying mainly woodland in the south, and wet moorland in the north.

This is a spring flying species, appearing in the first warm days of March and April.

The larvae feed nocturnally in late spring on several herbaceous plants such as groundsel and bedstraw.

It is fairly common and widely distributed in Britain. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as common.

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