Common in open woodland throughout the British Isles. Reasonably common in Hampshire, but rarely record on the Isle of Wight. Wingspan 9-10 mm. Flies in afternoon sunshine and at night. Characterised by white forewing, irregularly strigulate dark brown; a diffuse brownish streak from base to disc beneath subcostal vein; a large diffuse dark brown spot in disc; a diffuse terminal streak; apical dot blackish brown (MBGBI Vol 3). Larva mines the shoots and catkins of Birch.
The abundance in each month is indicated as follows:
No records Very occasional Irregular Uncommon Off-peak, but not unusual Off-peak, but not unusual Main flight time