The species was first described by Michael Denis and Ignaz Schiffermüller in 1775 from a specimen found near Vienna, Austria The wingspan is 11–14 mm.

Forewings shining golden whitish; a dorsal spot at 1/3 connected with base by a streak along fold, an outwardly oblique streak from middle of dorsum, and a tornal spot shining golden.

[2] Eggs are laid on willows and the larvae overwinter in leaf-buds until April when they bore into a shoot, causing it to droop.

When full grown in May or June the larvae are 11 mm long with a green body and dark-brown to black head, prothoracic and anal shields.

[3] Recorded food plants include goat willow (Salix caprea) and grey willow (Salix cinerea)[4] In North America these moths mainly live in mountainous areas, but are also present in prairies with the host plants.