Common in open woodland, scrubland, orchards, gardens and hedgerows throughout much of England and Wales; rare in Ireland. In Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight widespread and common. Wingspan 10.5-12 mm. Imago separable from
C. coracipennella and
C. prunifoliae only by dissection of the genitalia. Larva mines leaves of Hawthorn and Apple, living within a movable case; no feature is known for distinguishing cases of the three species, and the moths must therefore be bred and dissected, although cases on Hawthorn are more likely to be those of
C. spinella.