The forewings are golden-brown from the base to about the middle of the wing, passing gradually into golden yellow.

The mines are irregular and blotch-like, extending from the midrib almost and sometimes entirely to the edge of the leaf.

The number of mines in a single leaf varies from one to about twelve.

Full-grown larvae cut an oval case from a part of the mine which is free from frass.

The case containing the larva either drops to the ground or the larva crawls to the tip of a leaf pulling the case after it, and finally drops to the ground after hanging a short time suspended by a thread.