Nationally scarce (Nb) in woodland rides and edges throughout much of England. In Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight thinly distributed, except for the usual concentration of records in the south-east of the county and from Botley Wood in particular. Wingspan 8-10 mm. Very similar to
E. cingillella, but margins of the transverse white fascia rather ill-defined in
E. obliquella, fascia bounded on both sides by blackish suffusion in
E. cingillella. Larva mines leaves of False-brome, Upright Brome and various grasses.