Forewings whitish or ochreous whitish, sprinkled or sometimes densely irrorated with fuscous and dark fuscous; an indistinct blackish angulated transverse line about 1/3, not reaching dorsum; stigmata black, first discal double, followed by another black dot, plical confluent with transverse line, second discal forming a transverse mark or pair of dots; often an angulated and indented blackish subterminal line.

The larva is grey - green; head yellowish-grey; 3rd pair of legs placed on tubercle.

[2]Melanic forms are common in both male and female and can be found in some northern and industrial areas of England.

[4] Eggs are laid from March to May in batches of one hundred or more on the twigs or shoots of many species of deciduous trees and shrubs.

The polyphagous larva feed between leaves which are spun flatly above each other on many deciduous trees and shrubs.