Nationally scarce (Na) in hedgerows and scrubland in parts of south-eastern England, with records north to Yorkshire. In Hampshire there are few records of this species, but it is probably overlooked on account of the difficulty of finding the larva. Not recorded from the Isle of Wight to date. Wingspan 9-10 mm. Imago very similar to
C. adjectella and
C. badiipennella, and perhaps slightly darker and greyer than these species, but reliably separated only by dissection of the genitalia. Larva mines leaves of Hawthorn, Apple, Wild Cherry and Rowan, living within a movable case, which can be difficult to find.